Social Welfare Officers have been assigned to 8 of the top 11 destination and high-risk countries for Filipinos working abroad.
However, Singapore, Taiwan, and Bahrain top the list with nearly 250,000 total overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) but still don’t have Social Welfare Officers in place. Secretary Soliman, please commit to requesting the placement of Social Welfare Officers in Singapore, Taiwan, and Bahrain to help make shelters safer for OFWs.
Join them and sign the petition here: http://bit.ly/1n8pxkm
Why is this important?
2013 was a rough year for the Philippine embassy in Kuwait. Officials were accused of exploiting overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) seeking help in embassy-run shelters.
It was highlighted that embassy and shelter staff lacked the capacity to provide adequate services to distressed OFWs. In response, government took an important step in protecting distressed OFWs in overseas shelters by sending a Social Welfare Officer, Annie Mendoza, to the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait early this year!
Simula ng kanyang deployment, Ms. Mendoza has provided psychological support, counseling, and rehabilitation to OFW victims of exploitation and abuse, lalo na sa mga domestic helpers, na siyang pinaka-vulnerable.
Hindi bago ang konsepto ng ‘Social Welfare Officer’. In 2004, inilabas ang Executive Order No. 287, which says that Social Welfare Officers should be placed in countries kung saan maraming OFWs. Social Welfare Officers have been assigned to 8 of the top 11 destination and high-risk countries for Filipinos working abroad.
However, Singapore, Taiwan, and Bahrain top the list with nearly 250,000 total OFWs but still don’t have Social Welfare Officers in place. Hindi lamang legal support at labor assistance ang kailangan ng mga OFW. They also need counseling and rehabilitation, which only a professional social worker can oversee.
Department of Social Welfare and Development Sec. Dinky Soliman should commit to requesting the placement of Social Welfare Officers in Singapore, Taiwan, and Bahrain.
Alam natin na kapag ang mga Social Welfare Officer ay ipinadala sa Singapore, Taiwan at Bahrain, makapagbibigay sila ng tulong at kalinga sa mga kababayan nating naging biktima nang pangaabuso.
1. gmanetwork.com/news/story/313331/pinoyabroad/news/lawmaker-bares-alleged-sexploitation-of-distressed-ofws-by-phl-officials
2. Philippine Overseas Employment Administration. 2008-2012 Overseas Employment Statistics.