PH Ambassador to Czech Republic Delivers Speech at the 2019 Kapihan at Salu-Salo sa Pagtatapos ng Taon
The Filipino community listens, with interest, to Minister and Consul General Indhira C. Bañares as she presents the services of the Embassy of the Philippines in the Czech Republic. (Prague PE photo)

PRAGUE 18 December 2019 – The Philippine Ambassador to Prague Ombra T. Jainal reminded the community, as guests of the host country, to abide by the laws of the Czech Republic, honor their employment contracts and do their best in their work, and maintain the good reputation of the Filipino as a citizen and a worker at the close of the gathering of more than 100 Filipinos at the Grandior Hotel Conference Center in Prague on 15 December 2019.  

Members of the Filipino community came from all parts of the Czech Republic to convene for the Kapihan at Salu-Salo sa Pagtatapos ng Taon which featured three main topics which are Rights and Obligations of Workers, Program of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO)–Geneva for Filipinos, and Consular Services of the Philippine Embassy in the Czech Republic.

The Filipino community welcomed news on the initiative of the Philippine Government to negotiate a Social Security Agreement with the Czech Republic, with the Social Security System (SSS) of the Philippines hosting the first round of negotiations with the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs soon.

Czech Chamber of Commerce Senior Director for Trade Facilitation Antonin Kerner, explained the legal framework for the entry of Filipino workers into the Czech Republic. He cited the relationship between Philippine and Czech Government agencies and the private sector in ensuring that workers from the Philippines are able to legally work and reside in the Czech Republic. According to Kerner, there are now 89 Czech companies employing Filipino workers.

MedStaff S.R.O. Managing Director Karolina Aserova, discussed with the community the computation of gross and net salaries, including contributions to social security, health insurance and taxes, authorized leaves of absence, termination and extension of employment, the employee card, and, illegal employment. Concurring with Kerner and  Aserova stressed the preference of Czech employers for Filipino workers.

POLO-Geneva’s Paul Cabugao reminded Filipinos of the importance of employment contracts and invited Filipinos to become members of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA). Many Filipino workers enrolled in the OWWA system after his presentation. Cabugao also processed Overseas Employment Certificates for Filipino workers returning to the Philippines to save them time from doing so while on holidays with their families.

Philippine Minister and Consul General Indhira C. Bañares, presented the consular and Assistance-To-Nationals (ATN) services of the Philippine Embassy to the Filipino community in the Czech Republic, highlighting every Filipino’s right to request Czech authorities to notify the Consular Section of the Philippine Embassy should they be held for any reason and the Philippine Embassy 24/7 on-call service.  She also invited them to register as overseas voters for the 2022 national and local elections.

Original Pilipino Music (OPM) and Christmas serenades, modern dances, games and raffle draws enabled the Filipinos to enjoy the salu-salo in the afternoon. END

Czech Chamber of Commerce Senior Director Antonin Kerner explains the legal framework for the entry of Filipinos in the Czech Republic to an audience of more than 100 Filipinos at the Hotel Grandior Conference Center on 15 December 2019. (Prague PE photo)

Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) – Geneva’s Paul Cabugao explains the programs of his office to Filipinos in the Czech Republic at the Kapihan at Salu-Salo sa Pagtatapos ng Taon at Hotel Grandior Conference Center on 15 December 2019. Listening intently are (from left to right) Minister and Consul General Indhira C. Bañares, Philippine Ambassador Ombra T. Jainal, and MedStaff Managing Director Karolina Aserova. (Prague PE photo)

 An active member of the Filipino community asks a question from resource speaker and Managing Director of MedSatff s.r.o. Karolina Aserova (standing, leftmost). (Prague PE photo)

A group photo opportunity after the first part of the Kapihan at Salu-Salo at the Hotel Grandior Conference Center in Prague on 15 December 2019. (Prague PE photo)

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