PH Embassy in Cairo, IOM Egypt Conduct Information Exchange on Protection of Household Service Workers

Speakers and participants of the Roundtable Discussion on 23 June 2019. (Photo courtesy of IOM Egypt)

CAIRO 01 July 2019 — The Philippine Embassy in Cairo and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Egypt jointly conducted two-day discussion and information exchange on the Protection of Household Service Workers (HSWs) from 23 to 24 June 2019 in Cairo, Egypt.

A roundtable discussion was organized, and gave special focus on the Philippines’ experience in protecting HSWs on 23 June 2019 at the Four Seasons First Residence in Giza. The resource speaker, Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs Executive Director Atty. Enrico T. Fos delivered his presentation upon the invitation of IOM Egypt.

Ambassador to Egypt Sulpicio M. Confiado and IOM Egypt Chief of Mission Laurent de Boeck were also present to welcome participating officials and guests. This event was supported by the Danish Embassy in Cairo.

Atty. Fos’ presentation included a demographic mapping of overseas Filipinos, legislative background on the Philippine government’s mandate to protect the welfare and interest of overseas Filipinos, and the social protective measures for these nationals from pre-departure, on-site, and upon their return to the Philippines.

IOM Egypt Migrant Protection Coordinator Sarah Hayes presented various assistance being offered by IOM for at-risk migrants, including Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR). The International Recruitment Integrity System (IRIS), a multi-stakeholder certification system for labor recruiters was also introduced during the roundtable discussion.

The first of the two-day event was participated by Ambassadors and officials of Cambodia, Denmark, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nepal, Nigeria, Panama, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Uruguay, and representatives of United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the International Labor Organization (ILO).

On 24 June 2019, an informal exchange on the Protection of Domestic Workers was conducted at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), Cairo. Deputy Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Refugees, Migration and Combating Human Trafficking Ambassador Dina el-Sehy facilitated the discussions.

Apart from Atty. Fos’ presentation, representatives from the MFA Consular Affairs and Egyptians Abroad Sector, the Egyptian Ministry of Manpower and Immigration, and the Egyptian National Council for Women also shared their insights on the protection of domestic workers in Egypt.

The event culminated with fruitful exchange and sharing of best practices in the protection not only of HSWs but also of migrant workers.

Both the Philippines and Egypt share common issues in the protection of their diaspora, and will endeavor to keep open direct channels in the promotion of the welfare of their citizens.

IOM Egypt is an important partner of the Embassy in migration-related matters, such as counter-trafficking, labor migration and technical cooperation. END

From left: OUMWA Executive Director Enrico T. Fos, IOM Egypt Chief of Mission Laurent de Boeck and Ambassador to Egypt Sulpicio M. Confiado. (Photo courtesy of IOM Egypt)

Participants of the Informal Exchange on the Protection of Domestic Workers on 24 June 2019. (Photo courtesy of IOM Egypt)

Amb. Dina el-Sehy (center), Deputy Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Refugees, Migration and Combating Human Trafficking. (Photo courtesy of IOM Egypt)

Participants of the Informal Exchange on the Protection of Domestic Workers. (Photo courtesy of IOM Egypt)

For more information, visit https://www.cairope.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PHinEgypt/.