Migrant workers to be provided with discounts, benefits in city
The City Council, during last Monday’s regular session, approved on first reading a proposed ordinance providing discounts and other incentives to migrant workers and their families in the city.
Under the proposed ordinance, the city government shall vigorously endeavor to formulate programs and policies that will help alleviate their multifarious sufferings of the low income families and migrant workers brought about by financial hardship and other distressing trials in life.
The ordinance mandated the creation of the migrant workers desk in the local government to assist in the implementation of the pertinent provisions of the proposed measure.
The ordinance shall apply to a Filipino migrant worker, whether land-based or sea-based, who is a resident of the city.
The local government shall exert all its efforts to collaborate with business establishments to forge a partnership with these for the realization of the purpose of making the daily survival of migrant workers and or their immediate family better and more bearable.
The undertaking shall be primarily carried out by the Public Employment Service Office (PESO), as the lead implementing agency, in coordination with various local government offices and other related non-government organizations (NGOs).
The ordinance stated that each Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) and his or her beneficiaries covered by the measure shall be issued a migrant worker’s compensation package of privileges and benefit (MWCPPPB) identification card which shall be regularly renewed to determine whether the OFW is still enjoying a regular or documented status. The period of validity of the said identification card and the corresponding period for its renewal shall be duly discussed in the implementing rules and regulations that will be crafted for the said purpose.
Among the documents that must be presented by the OFW to avail of the MWCPPB identification card include original copies of employment contract, overseas employment certificate, passport, POEA travel exit clearance, seaman’s book, seaman’s certificate of proficiency, work permit or work visa and equivalent or similar documents at the discretion of the PESO.
The comprehensive package of programs and/or services for a migrant worker and the members of his or her immediate family include livelihood, self-employment and skills development, employment and re-integration, health education, housing and paralegal services.
Moreover, any migrant worker whose income in the place of domicile falls below the poverty threshold as set by the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) and subject to the assessment of the PESO in the area shall be eligible for assistance. A migrant worker shall be given priority accommodation if he or she directly inquires from the various agencies to avail of their services.
The ordinance defined priority accommodation to mean that the migrant worker and his or her family shall be given precedence when availing any of the services from the various agencies and offices. There shall be designated priority lanes where they can queue to immediately cater to their needs.
However, the eligibility and entitlement to such privilege and benefits of the migrant worker and the members of his or her immediate family shall automatically cease upon the termination of his or her employment and/or if he or she no longer falls and qualifies under any of the categories. – Dexter A. See
