DAVAO CITY, 27 December — Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) around the world may be in for a surprise if an assigned labor attaché in their work site is replaced next year.
According to Labor Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas there will be a major shake up in assignments of labor attachés.
In a report by the Daily Tribune, Sto. Tomas announced she will start the reshuffle of labor attachés with at least six officials to be transfered from one country to other areas.
Sto. Tomas has been quoted as saying, beside the revamp of labor attachés, movements in the regional directors and bureau chiefs will also follow.
Sto. Tomas stressed the aim of the reshuffle is to further enhance the knowledge of the labor officials.
"This is to give other DoLE officials a chance to enrich their knowledge because sometimes when you are doing the same thing you tend to be bored and you end up learning less," Sto. Tomas said.
The labor chief made her decision to conduct the revamp in the case of the labor attachés‚ particularly those deployed in the Middle Eastern countries who ended up getting tension and other forms of sickness in the performance of their duties.
Sto. Tomas revealed that a new policy of DoLE limits the term of labor attaché and other DoLE officials for three years to each post or assignment.
At least six or seven labor attachés are expected to be transfered to other destinations to fill-in the vacant seats left by the four labor attachés who died this year, Sto. Tomas pointed out.
Labor facilities abroad have always been the subject of criticism by OFWs, given the general indifference of Philippine diplomats to their plight.
Observers say the revamp would address the alleged irregularities in labor offices abroad.
