Bill for OFWs pushed

MANILA, Philippines - Re-electionist Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, who is running under the Team PNoy party of President Aquino, said he will push for the passage of a bill that seeks to create a Department of Foreign Employment that will promote and protect the rights of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who are being abused by their recruiters and employers.

Cayetano, along with independent senatorial candidate, party-list Rep. Teddy Casiño, flew to Hong Kong over the weekend to campaign among OFWs prior to the start of the absentee voting on April 13.

Cayetano also urged the national government to lift the ban on the direct hiring of OFWs since recruitment agencies have been taking advantage of migrant workers.

“It’s about time the government lifts the ban because recruiters are actually earning more than the workers. They have decided to work here to earn more money, and not to make themselves poorer,” Cayetano told the crowd.