Duterte makes case for OFW department

President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday made the case for the establishment of a department which would focus solely on overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

"The... signing of the bilateral labor agreement with Kuwait in 2018 is a testament of my commitment to stop abuses infected on our overseas Filipinos to ensure their welfare protection and their access to government's services," Duterte said during his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA).

He was referring to the memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the protection of Filipino workers signed by the Philippines in Kuwait in May 2018.

Divided into six articles, the MOU details the responsibilities of each country in ensuring that overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are given their basic human and labor rights while in Kuwait.

"The establishment of the Department of Overseas Filipinos will sufficiently address this particular need," Duterte said at the Batasang Pambansa.

Earlier this month, Duterte said he is looking to place the recruitment of OFWs under the direct and exclusive control of the government, as he called out private agencies over unfair practices and the abuse of migrants. — RSJ, GMA News