MANILA: Countries employing overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) should emulate Singapore and institute pro-migrant workers policies to protect their welfare, according to Senator Raffy Tulfo on Tuesday. Tulfo made the call following a meeting with Singaporean Ambassador to the Philippines Constance See on Monday afternoon at the Senate. During the meeting, Tulfo and See discussed the plight of OFWs in Singapore, according to a press release from the senator's office. The senator was happy to learn from See that there is a Labor Management Framework implemented in Singapore where labor officers regularly visit migrant workers to check on their conditions and ensure that they are not abused by their employers. He also learned of a law in Singapore where anyone who mistreats or violates the rights of migrant workers will receive a punishment that is one and 1/2 times more than regular crimes. See pointed out that it is required under their law for employers to undergo seminars and training before hiring migran t workers. 'Singapore can be considered a model country for other countries to emulate. If such laws and policies are implemented in Singapore, it is not impossible to implement them in other places where there are OFWs, such as countries in the Middle East,' Tulfo said. Source: Philippines News Agency
