Number of OFWs in Israel up by 25%

Departing OFW’s with their wrapped baggage wait in line to check in at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) terminal 1. INQUIRER FIEL PHOTO / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in Israel has reached its highest number in the last five years, according to the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Tel-Aviv.

The office said the deployment of OFWs rose from 2,288 in 2015 to 2,850 in 2016 or by 24.56 percent.

“With the significant growth of workers, the Philippine Embassy plans to ensure the protection of rights under Philippine and Israeli laws,” Labor Attaché to Israel Rodolfo Gabasan said in a statement.

A Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) release said the embassy seeks to improve employment opportunities for OFWs through a Bilateral Labor Agreement (BLA) with Israel.

DFA said the BLA seeks to stop the practice of agencies asking workers to give “placement fees.”

It said doing such will help OFWs “maximize their savings given the limited duration of their contract.”

Gabasan said caregivers are now required to attend a Post Arrival Orientation Seminar (PAOS) where they can learn about the services of the embassy. JE