Loren asks gov’t to help OFWs sentenced to death
Sen. Loren Legarda urged the government yesterday to leave no stone unturned in providing assistance to Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) facing legal troubles, especially those who have been sentenced to die.
Loren stressed that while justice must be afforded to all crime victims, justice must also be accorded to accused and convicted OFWs by way of ensuring they have ample legal representation abroad.
"Our concern is for all OFWs in trouble to be afforded due process in their host countries. This is a basic responsibility of the state to its citizens, wherever they may be," Loren said.
In as much as OFWs in trouble are punished under the laws of other countries, Loren said that the Philippine government can always appeal for humanitarian consideration for OFWs facing the death sentence.
"Sadly, the queue of OFWs to the gallows is getting longer. As a country which has abolished the death sentence, the Philippines should exert efforts to appeal for commutation of their sentence," she said.
Two more Filipinas in Kuwait joined the list of OFWs who were sentenced to die by their host countries.
Loren said she will make representations with other Middle East countries, like the United Arab Emirates (UAE), with the hope of a getting a more compassionate sentence for the two Filipinas.
In the past, death sentences meted out on OFWs had been commuted in consideration of widespread appeal for justice to be based on compassion, said Loren.
No training status for RP nurses in Japan
The Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) yesterday belied claims that Filipino nurses to be deployed to Japan will be given only the on-the-job training (OJT) status once they are there, saying that this is totally misleading.
In a statement, the DoLE said that under the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA), Filipino nurses who fail in the Japan licensure exam may undergo a supervised training under a Japanese licensed nurse but not as a nursing aide or trainee.
While under this situation, the DoLE said, the nurses will receive and benefits the same salary as those received by Japanese nurses doing the same line of work.
DoLE also clarified that failure to pass the Nihongo language training will not be a ground for the termination of contract since the employment contract is guaranteed for a maximum of three years.
"The language training would still continue in a real work situation under the supervision of a licensed Japanese nurse. This is not the same as OJT because under this situation, the Filipino nurse could now be getting the salary that is stipulated in the contract," the DoLE said.
The DoLE stressed that Filipino nurses working in Japan will get the same salaries and protection, as well as the same benefits, enjoyed by Japanese nurses and other health workers.
DoLE statistics showed that as of May this year, professional health workers, including nurses, in Japan get an average monthly salary of ¥306,700 or roughly ,121 (at least R140,000).
Solon holds job fair in QC
A job fair sponsored by Quezon City Rep. Nanette Castelo Daza will highlight the implementation of the President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo-Training for Work Program (PGMA-TWP) on Oct. 11 at the Barangay Roxas Basketball Court in Quezon City.
Asian Touch International Institute Inc., a firm accredited by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), will conduct a training for the program’s beneficiaries.
Asian Touch President Joycelyn Rodriguez said Asian Touch will hold a free service crew training for qualified applicants.
"Applicants who qualify on the spot automatically receives R3,500 scholarship for the training. After the training, the beneficiaries shall be provided jobs either here in the country or abroad," Daza said.
The government, in partnership with TESDA, launched the PGMA-TWP to provide employment for Filipino youth and workers. The program promotes technical vocational courses as a faster way of gaining jobs.
Daza cited the PGMA-TWP for answering the peoples’ call for more jobs in the country. "The program is indeed a sincere effort of the government to curb unemployment in the country."
She said 15 firms, including five call center companies, will participate in her mega job fair. Some of the participants, she said, are offering employment overseas.
Applicants were advised to bring barangay, police, and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) clearances, school records, and Social Security System (SSS) ID, among other requirements.
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