OFW
OWWA highlights entrepreneurship
& digital literacy for stakeholders on
2018 Migrant Workers’ Day
T
he Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) celebrated the 2018 Migrant
Workers’ Day with the theme, ‘Kabuhayan at Teknolohiya para sa OFWs at Pamilya”
to honor the contribution and sacrifices of the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs)
to nation-building and for the well-being of their families. The event was held at
the Philippine International Convention Center and was attended by 2,000 OFWs
and their families. One of the major highlights of the event was the signing of the
Memorandum of Agreement between OWWA and Coca-Cola Far East Limited
(CCFEL) to further strengthen the reintegration program of OWWA through
entrepreneurship pathway specifically designed for female returning OFWs.
Another major feature of the celebration was the forging of partnership
between OWWA and Facebook aimed at empowering the OFWs and
their families through digital literacy. With Facebook serving as one of the
platforms of communication of the OFWs and their families, the digital
literacy seminars will aid the OFWs and their families in knowing the right
usage of the social media and their participation in building a positive and
respectful community online. The digital literacy seminars will also provide
small business trainings for OFWs with entrepreneurial skill to prepare
them for their eventual return to the country. OWWA also hosted a Jobs Fair
with 47 participating employers/agencies that offered local and overseas
employment for displaced OFWs from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
“Livelihood has always been an integral component of the reintegration
program of OWWA. Given the onset of technology and the power of social
media, we must take advantage of these platforms to more economic uses,”
said OWWA Administrator Hans Leo J. Cacdac. The Migrant Workers’ Day is
celebrated every June 7 by virtue of Republic Act No. 8042 of the Migrant
Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act signed on June 7, 1995 by then President
Fidel V. Ramos.
www.owwa.gov.ph
Underage workers rescued
from recruiters
A
composite team of the National Bureau
of Investigation, Philippine Overseas
Employment Administration, Department
of Justice and Department of Social Welfare
and Development freed seven (7) minors
from a halfway house maintained by a
licensed recruitment agency.
The underage workers were recruited
workers.
The operatives also arrested Aisa Sailila y Sana; Samera Makot y Ayob
and Munera Patag y Tingkungan who admitted as in charge of the
accommodation house. They are not included in the list of employees
submitted by the agency and are not authorized by the POEA to recruit for
overseas employment.
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from several provinces in Mindanao to work as domestic
helpers in the Middle East. They were billeted in a 4-storey
residential building located at No. 166 Suerte St, Pasay City
while their employment documents are being prepared.
The licensed recruitment agency was found to have been
imposed a penalty of suspension of documentary processing
by the POEA on September 6, 2018. While under suspension
of documentation, the agency cannot deploy overseas
The suspects were brought to the Office of the City Prosecutor of Pasay
City for inquest proceedings and will be charged for large scale illegal
recruitment. A lawyer from POEA’s Anti-Illegal Recruitment Branch appeared
as special counsel for the minor workers who are now in custody of DSWD.
www.poea.gov.ph