The Department of Migrant Workers urged the Senate to ratify the International Labor Organization (ILO) Convention 190 on Violence and Harassment which aims to eliminate violence and harassment in the world of work, including gender-based violence and harassment.
“The Convention is especially relevant for our overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), who may face various forms of violence and harassment in their workplaces abroad, such as physical, psychological, sexual, or economic harm,” DMW officer-in-charge Hans Leo Cacdac said.
Cacdac said the Convention is “a landmark instrument” that recognizes the dignity and safety of all workers, regardless of their contractual status, sector, or occupation.
“The ILO Convention allows the creation of an international framework for the protection of our OFWs. Certain groups of OFWs may be more vulnerable to violence and harassment, such as domestic workers, seafarers, health workers, and women workers,” he said.
President Marcos earlier endorsed the ratification of ILO Convention 190 to the Senate in his referral letter on Oct. 13, 2023.
In a position paper submitted to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee chaired by Senator Imee Marcos, the DMW said the ratification of the Convention will highlight the Philippines’ commitment to promoting safe and decent work for all Filipinos regardless of their country of destination.
The DMW also pledged to continue its efforts to empower and protect OFWs through continuous training and knowledge development, as well as to provide remedies and assistance to OFWs who experience violence and harassment in their work settings.
The Convention defines violence and harassment as “a range of unacceptable behaviors and practices, or threats, whether a single occurrence or repeated, that aim at, result in, or are likely to result in physical, psychological, sexual or economic harm, and includes gender-based violence and harassment.”
