Aquino to bat for increased protection for OFWs during Asia-Europe Meet

Manila: President Benigno Aquino will advocate for increased protection of overseas Filipino workers’ rights when he attends the two-day 9th Asia-Europe Meeting in Vientienne, Laos starting on Monday.

Philippine Ambassador to Laos Peoples Democratic Republic Maria Lumen Isleta was quoted in reports as saying that Aquino will take up with European leaders the matter of protecting rights of migrant workers.

Tens of thousands of Filipinos are working in Europe, some employed in professional fields but most in the skilled worker sector including household service workers.

Isleta said since an increasing number of Filipinos have begun to live and work in European countries, it is only proper that the President brings to the attention of European leaders the importance of protecting their rights and well-being.

In Lao, Isleta said that there are around 550 OFWs who work in the mining, education, consultancy, accounting, and medical fields.

Leaders from several countries will meet in the Laos capital to discuss issues that include climate change and the global economic and financial crisis.

“There is quite a lot of items on the agenda for ASEM9 such as discussions on climate change, sustainable development, the EuroZone crisis, economic and financial crisis but I think for the Philippines the President will want to focus on priority issues for the Philippines with Europe and this will pertain on migration and also energy security,” Isleta said.

Lean delegation

Presidential Deputy Spokesperson Abigail Valte said Aquino led a “lean” delegation of seven officials to the summit in Laos. Aside from Isleta, the party included Foreign Secretary Albert F. del Rosario, Finance Secretary Cesar V. Purisima, Trade Secretary Gregory L. Domingo, Energy Secretary Rene D. Almendras, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan and Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Sonny Coloma.

The delegation left Manila at around 4pm on Sunday.

Aquino is expected to showcase the Philippines as “Open for Business” to potential Lao investors by promoting sectors where they can invest in, particularly sectors in agriculture, textile, mining, energy and tourism.

The Philippines National Statistic Coordination Data (PNSCD) said Laos has had no business investment in the Philippines since 2010.

“However, the Philippines hopes to strengthen its relationship with Lao PDR through the promotion of specific sectors such as in agriculture, textile, mining, energy and tourism,” the PNSCD said.