RP-Israel labor pact in the works

The Philippines and Israel have agreed to work out a bilateral labor agreement that will provide social security benefits to Filipino workers in Israel and Israelis working in the Philippines. Gilberto Asuque, the Philippine charge d’affaires and head of the Philippine negotiating panel, initialed with Jacob Sasporta, head of the Israeli panel, the Minutes of the Meeting of the RP-Israel Negotiations for the Social Security Agreement at the conclusion of the two-day talks in Jerusalem last week. The minutes included the agreed text of the agreement which provides, among other things, that Filipinos and Israelis will have medical coverage for work-related diseases and injuries, maternity benefits and other social security benefits. Around 30,000 documented Filipino workers are in Israel, DFA figures show. The agreement, Asuque said, “will benefit the OFWs in Israel and conform with the Philippine foreign policy in safeguarding the interests of the Filipino nationals abroad." Manila and Tel Aviv officials assured that their respective governments will exert efforts to complete as soon as possible the internal process for the ratification and implementation of the accord. - GMANews.TV