Pinoy peacekeepers awarded in Haiti

Filipino soldiers were awarded yesterday for their peacekeeping service in Haiti.

The troops served with the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) and are part of the 10th Philippine Peacekeeping Contingent under Army Lt. Col. Lope Dagoy in Port-au-Prince. Read more

NGO critical of amendments to migrant workers act

Some of the proposed changes to the Migrant Workers Act of 1995 will be disadvantageous to the migrant sector, said the International Seafarers’ Action Center (ISAC) Philippines Foundation, Inc.

According to news from the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), the foundation is in favor of some of the amendments but said that there are some things lacking. Read more

Repatriates from Lebanon should press charges against recruiters

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) advised the repatriates from Lebanon to file cases against their recruiters since the Philippines is still enforcing a labor deployment ban there.

Philippine Ambassador to Lebanon Gilberto GB Asuque reminded 104 Filipinos who were repatriated this week that recruitment for work in Lebanon is in violation of the deployment ban and they should consider pressing charges against their recruiters. Read more

OWWA expands salubong program for OFWs

The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) is offering free shuttle rides to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who want to avoid the heavy traffic at international airports during the holidays and meet their greeters at nearby malls instead.

The service, which is offered under OWWA’s expanded Pamaskong Salubong program 2009 for OFWs, gives OFWs in selected international flights the option to meet greeters at the mall. This allows them to avoid congested parking areas at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Diosdado Macapagal International Airport or Cebu International Airport. Read more

15 Filipinos in Greek ship mishap

Fifteen Filipino seafarers were on board the Greek cargo ship Aegan Wind, which caught fire off the Venezuelan coast last week.

According to news from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), three are confirmed dead and three are missing. Two others, Cromwell Pilapil and Mark San Jose, suffered burns and are being transferred by helicopter to Margarita Island for treatment. The rest are safe. Read more

OWWA assures repatriation of OFWs

The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) assured families of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) asking for immediate repatriation that OFWs will be flown home immediately after they get the exit clearances required by host governments.

“OWWA funds are sufficient to buy the plane tickets,” Administrator Carmelita S Dimzon said in a dialogue with the families of some OFWs and Migrante International, an alliance of Filipino migrant groups, early this month. Read more

RP scores first victory in Lebanon abuse case

A Lebanese employer was convicted for the abuse of a Filipino domestic worker, the first in the history of Lebanon.

According to Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) news, Fayrouz Farez was sentenced this month by a Lebanese court to 15 days in prison, US$34 in court fines, and US$7,200 in compensation to Johnalyn Malibago. Read more

First licensure exams for nurses, midwives in HK

A total of 117 examinees took the first-ever licensure examinations for nurses and midwives conducted by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) of the Philippines in Hong Kong (HK), according to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

Ninety took the nurses exams while 27 took the midwifery exams in early December. Read more

Proposed changes to Canada’s caregiver program

Canada’s Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney announced early this month the proposed changes that would better promote the welfare of live-in caregivers.

The proposed improvements to the Live-In Caregiver Program (LICP) include the Juana Tejada Law. It eliminates the required sedicacond mel examination for caregivers when applying to become permanent residents in Canada, according to news from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). Read more

RP awards 10 people for uplifting status of caregivers in Canada

Philippine Ambassador to Canada Jose S Brillantes awarded 10 individuals who have worked for the protection of the rights of live-in caregivers in Canada and to uplift their status and benefits as migrant workers.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reported that Brillantes awarded the certificates of recognition and citations early this month. Efforts of the awardees resulted in significant changes to Canada’s Live-in Caregiver Program (LICP). Read more

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