COTABATO CITY – A measure seeking to establish an office dedicated to the empowerment and full protection of overseas Bangsamoro workers (OBWs) was filed by lawmakers in the region.
BTA Bill No. 188, or the Bangsamoro Migrant Workers Act of 2023, aims to provide OBWs with the necessary skills, continuous training, and knowledge development opportunities.
Engr. Baintan Ampatuan, the main author of the bill, emphasized the need for a specialized office devoted to the welfare of OBWs.
The ministry will be responsible for formulating policies, coordinating efforts, and implementing measures to regulate, manage, and monitor the overseas employment of Bangsamoro workers. It also encompasses both documented and undocumented OBWs, ensuring that their rights and welfare are safeguarded.
Engr. Ampatuan highlighted the vital role of overseas employment in providing financial security for many Filipinos and its contribution to the Philippine economy through remittances sent by overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
However, she also acknowledged the numerous challenges faced by OBWs, including fraudulent recruitment practices, abuse, excessive working hours, and inadequate wages.
To address these concerns, the MBMW will work to protect OBWs from abuse, violence, maltreatment, trafficking, imprisonment, and illegal migration. The ministry’s functions will include regulating recruitment and deployment processes, promoting the welfare of OBWs and their families, establishing linkages with foreign countries, and providing emergency response services.
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the number of OFWs reached an estimated 1.83 million in 2021, higher than the 1.77 million estimated in 2020.
She emphasized that the establishment of the MBMW is crucial due to the prevalence of illegal practices that affect OFWs every day.
Some OFWs have experienced the disappointment of arriving in their destination country only to find out that the promised job does not exist or that they have been placed in a position they did not apply for.
Others have suffered abuse from their employers, longer working hours, or lower wages than stated in their contracts. Illegal recruitment and human trafficking have also victimized some OFWs.
Ampatuan acknowledged the sacrifices made by OBWs, describing the experience as physically and mentally agonizing as well as emotionally draining, due to the separation from their families for extended periods without guarantees or knowledge of the risks they may encounter abroad.
Currently, the Ministry of Labor and Employment caters to the issues and concerns of OBWs, but its powers and functions are limited.
She stressed that the creation of the MBMW would enhance the protection and promotion of OBWs’ rights, ensuring their rights are not compromised or violated.
The proposed measure also calls for the establishment of provincial offices across various regions in BARMM. Additionally, it proposes the transfer of functions from the Overseas Workers Welfare Bureau of the Ministry of Labor and Employment to the MBMW, effectively abolishing the former.
The bill is co-authored by MPs Amilbahar Mawallil, Atty. Laisa Alamia, Atty. Suharto Ambolodto, Engr. Don Mustapha Loong, Atty. Rasol Mitmug Jr., and Rasul Ismael. (LTAIS-Public Information, Publication, and Media Relations Division)