22 October 2013 - The Philippine Consulate General in Macau and Caritas-Macau signed a memorandum of agreement on October 18 to jointly assist overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Macau to successfully integrate themselves in their work environment and Macau society.

The memorandum was signed at the Consulate by Consul General Danilo T. Ibayan and Caritas-Macau Secretary General Paul Pun Chi Meng in the presence of Vice Consul Fernando Beup, Jr., Acting Labor Attaché Ramon Lamberto Pastrana, Ms. Evelia Gabrido, and Commission on Audit auditor Ms. Virginia Mendoza.

The memorandum seeks to provide Filipino workers in Macau the necessary tools and knowledge to effectively undertake their tasks and achieve a productive and balanced life by giving them trainings and seminars related to their work and society in general. The trainings and seminars to be conducted cover a wide area, from language training, skills enhancement, and cultural familiarization, to financial literacy and health and wellness.

According to Mr. Pun, the memorandum of agreement is the first to be signed by Caritas-Macau with a foreign government and would serve as a model for similar programs for migrant workers from other countries. Caritas-Macau is very active in assisting migrant workers in their concerns, constantly working with other agencies for a harmonious, productive, and caring society.

Next to the Chinese from the mainland, Filipinos comprise the largest group of foreign workers in the territory at 17,763. They are followed by 11, 336 Vietnamese, 5,876 Hongkongers, 4,027 Indonesians, 2,581 Nepalese, and 1,006 Thais.  END