In line with the decision of Taiwan to suspend the deployment of Filipino workers, the Secretary of the Labor Department, Rosalinda Baldoz ordered the creation of a Help Desk dedicated for queries and assistance request of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) that are affected by the hiring freeze in Taiwan.

The task given to Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) chief, Hans Cacdac and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) chief, Carmelita Dimzon is in compliance with the “We Serve OFWs Convergence Program: Sama-samang Paglilingkod Para sa OFW” which was established through Administrative Order No. 157, series of 2013, issued by the Secretary on April 2, 2013. This program is formed to unify the different agencies with services and programs for OFWs so they can deliver in a faster and more organized manner.

The Help Desk would be available to give assistance to OFWs that were sent home from Taiwan. Their services would include providing information on livelihood and business opportunities one can try in the Philippines as well as referral for local and overseas jobs. Legal assistance would also be provided for those with legitimate claims from their employers.

Baldoz said, “I task the Help Desk to produce a profile of the OFWs returning from Taiwan, including their principals, employers, and deploying agencies, and to provide the Office of the DOLE Secretary accurate and updated information on their number, skills and qualifications, and if possible, their occupational inclination or plans upon their return, so we can better direct and focus our assistance to them.

The POEA chief, Cacdac who also happens to be the Chairman of the DOLE Oversight Committee for the We Serve OFWs Convergence Program, acted fast and assigned Deputy Administrator in-charge and legal service head Jeriel Domingo to lead the operations and supervise the Help Desk. Meanwhile, Mr. Celso Hernandez of the POEA’s Labor Assistance Division is instructed to man the Help Desk. It can be contacted at (02) 7221189.

The Help Desk for OFWs in Taiwan will add to the existing 28 POEA Help Desks and 901 of OWWA stationed all over the country. To ensure that the Help Desk for OFWs in Taiwan would provide better assistance, Baldoz also involved the following agencies so they can give assistance and support to OFWs: Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), National Maritime Polytechnic, National Labor Relations Commission, National Reintegration Center for OFWs, Bureau of Local Employment, Labor Communications Office, International Labor Affairs Bureau, Planning Service, and Human Resource Development Service.

On the other hand, the Pilipino Manpower Agencies Accredited to Taiwan (PILMAT) had a dialogue with Baldoz and they guarantee their commitment to assist in the repatriation of workers in Taiwan by closely coordinating with the POEA.