OFW News
DOLE creates committee
on OFW deployment
Anticipating the full integration
of the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations (Asean), the
Labor department has set
up a special committee to
coordinate policies on the
deployment of more Filipino
workers abroad. Labor
Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz has
ordered the re-establishment
of the Committee on
International Trade Agreement
of the Department of Labor
and Employment (DOLE) in
preparation for the Asean
integration.
T
aking into account the implementation of the
Movement of Natural Persons (MNP) and the
Mutual Recognition Arrangements (MRAs)
in multilateral, regional and bilateral free
trade agreements (FTA) entered into by the
Philippines, DOLE has reconstituted the
committee on international trade agreement,” Baldoz
disclosed. She said the committee
would serve as the clearing house and integration of
all department concerns related to existing and future
international free trade agreements.
“The reconstitution of the committee aims to achieve
coherence in policies relative to the DOLE’s mandate on
MNP and MRA in multilateral, regional and bilateral
FTAs,” Baldoz explained. The MNP is an agreement
among Asean members that allows the temporary entry
of skilled workers, professionals and executives to Asean
member-countries as business visitors, intra-corporate
transferees and contractual service suppliers. On the other
hand, MRA is an agreement designed to facilitate the freer
movement and employment of qualified and certified
professionals between Asean member-countries.
“We have defined the roles and responsibilities of the
committee members to better address the increasing focus
and preparation of our country, specifi cally in the labor
front, for Asean integration,”Baldoz said. She noted that
the free movement of capital, goods, services, investment
and skilled labor would be a central activity in the Asean
economic community.” Baldoz said the Professional
Regulation Commission (PRC) would ensure a system
of developing professionals whose personal integrity and
spiritual values are solid and respected nationally and
internationally, and whose competencies are globally
competitive.
The reconstitution of the committee aims to achieve coherence
in policies relative to the DOLE’s mandate on MNP and MRA in
multilateral, regional and bilateral FTAs.
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