OVERSEAS FILIPINOS who have lost their job are entitled to assistance from their native government, the country’s employment minister has reiterated.
Labour and Employment Secretary Marianito D Roque stated last Friday that immigrant Filipinos who have lost their employment or may also be displaced due to the global financial crisis can avail of livelihood assistance to find another job locally or overseas under the contingency plan of the Department of Labor and Employment in the Philippines.
Immigrant Filipinos can seek assistance from the National Reintegration Centre for Overseas Filipino Workers in Intramuros, Manila or at the regional branches of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration. Affected local workers, on the other hand, can go to the nearest regional or provincial department office for assistance.
Roque said that assistance to the affected workers under the department’s contingency plan primarily involves either helping them establish livelihood or income-generating projects or sourcing other suitable employment locally or overseas.
For displaced overseas or local workers who prefer to engage in business undertakings, Roque said that they would initially be granted an assistance package consisting of entrepreneurship counselling, entrepreneurship training and access to equipment.
