PH Overseas Labor Office Undertakes Working Visit to Laos
Ambassador to Laos Belinda M. Ante welcomes Labor Attaché Elizabeth Estrada and Welfare Officer Zenaida Ramos to the Philippine Embassy in Vientiane. (Vientiane PE photo)
VIENTIANE 28 November 2018 – Labor Attaché Elizabeth Marie Estrada and Welfare Officer Zenaida Ramos from the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Kuala Lumpur undertook a working visit to Laos on 01-06 November 2018 upon the invitation of the Philippine Embassy in Vientiane.
During their visit, Labor Attache Estrada and Welfare Officer Ramos met with Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LNCCI) official Xaybandith Rasphone and discussed issues affecting Filipinos working in Laos such as stricter immigration and labor policies as well as possible areas for labor cooperation between the Philippines and Laos.
They also met with Lao Federation of Trade Unions Vice President Symoon Ounlasy and discussed the labor and employment situation in Laos, as well as explored possible cooperation activities between the Philippines and Laos in the promotion and protection of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the country.
The Embassy also conducted consultation meetings between the two officials and members of the Filipino Community in Laos to provide the community with updates on Philippine government policies on overseas deployment of Filipino workers, discuss the programs of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) for OFWs, and clarify the process for the authentication and or verification of employment contracts.
The attendees voiced some of their issues and concerns regarding POEA requirements such as seeming inconsistencies on the requirements and procedures for the issuance of overseas employment certificates as well as questions on OWWA membership and benefits. Both officials assured the Filipinos that they will convey their concerns to the Department of Labor and Employment and POEA.
During the consultation meetings, Labor Attache Estrada evaluated the employment contracts of the Filipinos and made notations on the contracts as to whether or not these complied with the minimum POEA requirements and offered to return in the next few months for the purpose of officially authenticating the contracts of Filipinos working in Laos. She also evaluated documents for the accreditation of a recruitment agency in Laos. On the other hand, Welfare Officer Ramos processed the renewal and updating of OWWA membership accounts of some of the Filipinos. END
Labor Attaché Elizabeth Marie Estrada and Welfare Officer Zenaida Ramos meets with Lao Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare official Phongxaisack Inthalath. (Vientiane PE photo)
Labor Attaché Elizabeth Marie Estrada and Welfare Officer Zenaida Ramos conduct a bilateral meeting with Lao Federation of Trade Unions Vice President Symoon Ounlasy. (Vientiane PE photo)
Labor Attaché Elizabeth Marie Estrada and Welfare Officer Zenaida Ramos meet with Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry Employers Board Committee Vice President Xaybandith Rasphone to discuss Philippines-Laos labor cooperation and labor-related issues and concerns of Filipinos in Laos. (Vientiane PE photo)
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