Being appointed to her first post outside of the Philippines is a privilege for Philippine Labour Attache Margarita Victorino-Marquez . Appointed as a Labour Attache by the Secretary of Labour and Employment last September 2017 , she assumed her first posting here in BC last January 2018 . She is a lawyer by education , but she completed my pre- Med at the de La Salle University with a degree of BS Biology , and did one year of Med school , then went into law after that . She also has a Master ’ s Degree in Business Administration from Ateneo de Manila . To top it all off , she received her fellowship from the Center of American International Law from Dallas , Texas . PNT recently caught up with LaBatt Marquez and shared with us some of the important things the PCG and POLO are doing for TFWs in Vancouver .

PNT : How long have you worked in labour ?

MVM : I was with DOLE for less than a year . Prior to my appointment as Labour Attache , I was the head of Litigation Department of Metrobank and prior to that I worked as a State Solicitor for the Solicitor General ’ s Office for almost seven years . This is my first posting and the term for a Labour Attache is five years .

PNT : Describe your first posting as Labour Attache .

MVM : It is both exciting and challenging because there is a lot of

movement in the field of labour law in the Philippines and in the host country . It is also enlightening to be working with temporary foreign workers here in Canada . I have always witnessed grit in Filipinos , but I have never fully realized the length and willingness to sacrifice for their families , so I consider a privilege to work closely with them and our Canadian counterparts .

PNT : What work does the POLO do ?

MVM : The POLO is essentially the face of the Labour Office of the Philippines here in the host country . We extend the services of the POEA as well as the OWWA . We are tasked primarily to verify recruitment contracts that are entered into by and between Canadian prospective employers and Filipinos , Recently we have noted reports concerning TFWs so the POLo has actively engaged our counterparts in canada to ensure that

the workers are aware of the rights and privileges and they have and support and protection when these rights are violated or privileges are curtailed .

PNT : What are the services that our kabayans can avail at the POLO ?

MVM : The POLO is open from Monday to Friday from 9 am until the last client leaves , The POLO alternatively accompanies the Philippine Consulate of Vancouver and Calgary . We hold outreach programs , as well as post arrival seminars for TW s who are fecentlyjoing the canadian workforce . In our office we also assist workers who are returning to the Philippines and encourage them to renew their OWWA memberships . Incidentally , the protection and privileges of OWWA members have been expanded , we would like to inform our members that not only will they be guaranteed insurance coverage , but their heirs and children of age who have hurdled qualifier exams may be given college scholarships . Their next of kin may also avail of training at TESDA . They are geared towards reunification with

their families in the Philippines . PNT : Are there any other rules or regulations that our kabayans

need to know ?

MVM : Recently the POEA released a memorandum circular as MC05 of 2018 . It has supplemented the requirement of the hiring of domestic helpers . Household service works . Previously the POLO will only proceed with verification with request by foreign employers is they are both represented by a foreign recruitment agency and a Philippine agency . With MC05 the employer will now proceed to submit documentary requirement including the certificate of no criminal record of the local police , in lieu of the services of a foreign recruitment agency . All these recent developments , or recent enactments , administrative issuances , attached to the DOLE are immediately posted on our website , for the information and guidance of recruitment agencies , and workers as well as prospective canadian employees

PNT : Any policies that you are currently working on with the PCG ?

MVM : There are ongoing

negotiations and Canada . We will be actively pursuing negotiations relating to Memorandum of understanding aimed to better protect the rights and privileges of TFWs , as well as enhance and contribute to the economy and the various business interests of Canadian employers .

PNT : Any other information you ’ d like to share with our readers ?

MVM : We would like to let the workers know TFWs in Canada that the Duterte administration and the goals of DOLE is here to protect all our workers , because we know they are facing a number of challenges . We want them to know that the Philippine government , the President and Secretary of Labour are behind them and they can rely on the assistance of POLO in all their concerns .

With her enthusiasm and desire to help , our kababayans certainly have a voice in the Philippine government that the POLO office can echo through LaBatt Marquez .