OFWs from Taiwan get DOLE's help for peanut butter business

MANILA, Philippines — Amid a peanut butter scare in the United States, overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who lost their jobs in Taiwan recently will get livelihood assistance from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for a peanut butter business. In an article on the DOLE’s website (www.dole.gov.ph), Labor Secretary Marianito Roque said this was part of a contingency plan to help displaced OFWs set up their own business enterprise. "While their case is being resolved at the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, the OFWs would be assisted in putting up their own livelihood project. The affected OFWs are interested in producing and selling peanut butter," the article quoted Roque as saying. Roque met with the displaced OFWs following their protest rally last week. The OFWs at the rally had demanded a refund of their placement fee and airfare. During the meeting, he assured the OFWs that the DOLE and POEA would exhaust all means to assist them. On orders of Roque, the POEA would hold continuous hearings to expedite the resolution of the OFWs' complaints against their recruitment agencies and Taiwanese employers. POEA Administrator Jennifer Manalili, who joined the dialogue, appealed to the OFWs to extend their full cooperation in the hearing to ensure its expeditious completion. Roque also assured displaced workers that all the necessary assistance shall be given to them to hasten the setting up and operations of their livelihood project. This would help them earn anew and be able to cover expenses while their case is ongoing. Assistance would include helping them prepare a business plan, operate a business, and market their products. Also, Roque ordered the airfare refund expedited through the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), which will charge the airfare to the OFWs' recruitment agencies. - GMANews.TV