PH Ambassador to Turkey, President of Turkey’s Social Security Institution (SGK) Discuss Social Security Benefits for OFWs in Turkey
Dr. Mehmet Selim Bağlı (4th from right) and Philippine Ambassador Maria Rowena Mendoza Sanchez (2nd from left) meet at the Social Security Institution (SGK) Headquarters in Ankara. (Photo courtesy of Mr. Manuel Oira)
22 February 2018 ANKARA – Philippine Ambassador to Turkey Maria Rowena Mendoza Sanchez met with Dr. Mehmet Selim Bağlı, President of the Social Security Institution (SGK) of Turkey on 21 February, to discuss the status of overseas Filipinos in Turkey and to ensure that they receive social security benefits as mandated by Turkish local laws.
Ambassador Sanchez and Consul Lorena Joy Banagodos briefed Dr. Bağlı about the unauthorized activities conducted by private employment agencies who facilitate the employment of Filipino workers from Hong Kong, Singapore, Dubai, Moscow and other cities to work in Turkey which is a form of human trafficking. Dr. Bağlı and his team reiterated that such activities are a clear violation of Turkish labor laws and agencies and employers are liable to stiff penalties.
Dr. Bağlı expressed his full support in assisting the Embassy in its efforts to ensure that Filipinos working in Turkey have social security insurance and are protected.
The Embassy and SGK also established a working group to address problems encountered by Filipino victims of illegal recruitment and human trafficking in Turkey who end up without any social security benefits. END
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