COTABATO CITY – Bangsamoro lawmakers have passed a bill seeking to establish an office dedicated to the empowerment and full protection of Filipino-Muslims working abroad or overseas Bangsamoro workers (OBWs).
The BTA Bill No. 188 or the Bangsamoro Migrant Workers Act of 2023, authored by MP Engr. Baintan Ampatuan, aims to provide OBWs with the necessary skills, continuous training, and knowledge development opportunities.
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.
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 Ministry of
Bangsamoro Workers Welfare (MBMW), effectively abolishing the former.
Ampatuan 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.
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. 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.
Ampatuan 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.
She 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.
Ampatuan stressed that the creation of the MBMW
would enhance the protection and promotion of OBWs' rights, ensuring their
rights are not compromised or violated.
(LTAIS-Public Information, Publication, and
Media Relations Division)
