By Liza Soriano
MANILA — Senator Joel Villanueva has emphasized the need to guarantee back pay for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who have been displaced in New Zealand.
He called upon the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to ensure the prompt disbursement of these payments.
“Being unemployed in a foreign country is a nightmare for our fellow OFWs. For them, it’s a matter of no work, no pay. Without a source of income, how can they survive?” questioned Villanueva.
He expressed the urgency to avoid a recurrence of the situation faced by OFWs laid off in Saudi Arabia, where many are still waiting for their overdue pay and other entitlements. Villanueva urged swift action, stating, “Let’s act now.”
The DMW announced this Friday that the agency will assist OFWs who have lost their jobs in New Zealand.
According to DMW officer-in-charge Hans Leo Cacdac, 452 out of 700 OFWs have sought help from the Philippine government.
(el Amigo/MNM)
