COTABATO CITY – The Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) approved a measure that seeks to institutionalize policies that would protect overseas Bangsamoro workers and their families.
“Indeed, this is a clear manifestation that the Bangsamoro Government through the Ministry of Labor and Employment (MOLE) is strongly committed to protecting our Overseas Bangsamoro Worker against abuses or maltreatment, trafficking in person or illegal migration, and provide comprehensive intervention and support to advance their welfare including their families,” Romeo Sema, the bill’s principal author said.
He expressed his appreciation to the workers for their contribution to the region’s economic growth. He assured them that the Bangsamoro government would give them the protection they deserved.
Parliament Bill No. 36 or Overseas Bangsamoro Workers (OBWs) Act of 2020, MP Sema said, was created to serve the needs of the Bangsamoro people working in foreign lands.
The Bangsamoro government, as stated in the bill, will offer adequate and timely social, economic, and free legal services to OBWs. It includes coordination and cooperation with the Department of Justice, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), and other non-governmental organizations and volunteer groups.
They will also institutionalize an effective mechanism to ensure that the rights and interests of distressed OBWs, whether documented or undocumented, are adequately protected.
The measure also states that a P10-million emergency repatriation fund will be allotted to support the repatriation of OBWs.
Under the law, the Bangsamoro government will only allow the deployment of OBWs in countries where their rights are protected. The government recognizes any of the following as a guarantee on the part of the receiving country for the protection of the rights of OBWs:
(a) It has existing labor and social laws protecting the rights of workers, including migrant workers;
(b) It is a signatory to and/or a ratifier of multilateral conventions, declarations resolutions relating to the protection of workers, including migrant workers; and
(c) It has concluded a bilateral agreement or arrangement with the National or Bangsamoro government on protecting the rights of OBWs.
The MOLE, in coordination with DFA and other agencies, will have an OBWs help desk in every Philippine Overseas Labor and Office (POLO) of the country where
OBWs have been deployed.
Meanwhile, any person found guilty after final conviction of illegal recruitment will suffer the penalty of imprisonment of not less than 12 years and one (1) day but not more than 20 years and a fine of not less than P1-million nor more than P2-million. (Publication and Media Relations Division)