KABAYAN Party-list Representative Ron Salo filed on Tuesday the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) Registry Act or House Bill (SB) 10821, to streamline the employment process for OFWs.
The bill mandates that all recruitment agencies post valid job orders in the OFW Registry, ensuring that workers have access to legitimate and verified job offers.
"The OFW Registry Bill is a proactive step to safeguard the welfare of our OFWs by ensuring that only those who are competent, prepared, and fully aware of the challenges they may face are deployed for overseas work," Salo said.
The bill’s transparency would protect OFWs from fraudulent job offers, providing them with reliable information on recruiters. Moreover, a critical part of the bill states that “any recruitment activities outside the OFW Registry, or those exempted by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), shall be considered illegal recruitment.”
By mandating all recruitment agencies to post valid job offers in the registry, workers will be provided with reliable sources of information, reduce their risks of exploitation, and ensure that they are making informed decisions about their employment abroad.
“This ensures that all recruitment practices are conducted within a regulated framework, further safeguarding OFWs from unscrupulous activities,” Salo stated.
The bill also focuses on the recruitment process of workers. Only those who are registered and assessed for readiness are deemed prepared and eligible for deployment. With this, recruitment will be limited to those listed in the OFW Registry.
"The days of deploying unprepared OFWs are over. This bill ensures that our recruitment agencies can focus on individuals who have been properly vetted and prepared, thereby reducing the risk of employment-related issues abroad," Salo stressed.
The OFW Registry Bill provides a comprehensive approach to addressing the challenges that workers face with overseas employment and recruitment.
