|
Genuine Opposition senatorial candidate Loren Legarda
batted for a comprehensive social security scheme for overseas
Filipino workers that would guarantee them disability, retirement
and medical benefits.
In a statement on Sunday Legarda
cited growing complaints of OFWs that they are not being afforded
the same benefits provided by the Social Security System and the
Government Service Insurance System to Filipinos working in the
country.
“There are about eight million
OFWs today, representing eight million Filipinos who, despite
working hard away from their families, feel uncertain about their
future,” Legarda said.
“The common complaints I
receive from OFWs is that the government is no longer there for them
the moment they stop working abroad and stop remitting money,” she
said.
Legarda said that while OFWs’
membership in the Overseas Workers’ Welfare Administration is
mandatory through the payment of membership fees, OFWs lament that
OWWA is not responsive to their needs.
Worse, OFWs are only entitled to
OWWA benefits while their memberships are current. Thus, even if an
OFW has been paying his OWWA membership fee for decades, he is
deprived of OWWA benefits once he stops being an OFW.
“This set-up is grossly
disadvantageous to OFWs since the premiums they pay for social
benefits should be cumulative and not lapse,” Legarda said.
“We need a system for OFWs
characterized by flexible payment schemes and a host of benefits
befitting them who are called the ‘new heroes’ of our nation.”
She added that while the SSS
offers OFWs voluntary membership to its provident fund program, what
OFWs really need is a social security set-up that gives them regular
SSS or GSIS-type benefits guaranteed by the government.
Legarda said that if elected anew
to the Senate in May, she would seek the inputs of OFWs on how best
government can serve their various needs.
“OFWs should also be provided
safe and secure investment opportunities, social counseling support,
a fully transparent and audited emergency fund for such needs as
repatriation, and improved government services abroad through our
embassies and consulates,” she said.
She also identified other
problems that OFWs and their families face, including being
victimized by illegal recruiters, being abused at work, breakdown in
family relations, facing repressive migrant policies and turmoil in
some countries.
 --Francis
Earl A. Cueto
|
