FILIPINO CAREGIVERS IN ISRAEL TRAINED AS DEFENDERS OF RIGHTS

28 November 2006 — Philippine Ambassador to Israel Antonio C, Modena reported to DFA Secretary Alberto G. Romulo that sixteen Filipino caregivers completed the three-month facilitators' training program on foreign workers rights and obligations organized by the Philippine Embassy and Mesila at the Embassy conference room from September to November 2006.

Spearheaded by Dr. Francisco Cruz, OWWA Officer, in coordination with Mesila, the Social Welfare Department of the Municipality of Tel Aviv, the training is aimed at providing the Filipino workers basic information on Israeli labor laws and visa-related issues. The 16 graduates will act as facilitators to help the Embassy in informing Filipino workers of their rights and obligations as foreign workers.

The training program created the 16-member core group that would assist the Embassy in providing OFWs with updated information on Israeli labor and immigration laws, delivering immediate solution/advice to minor problems, developing communication skills of Filipinos in an Israeli setting and encouraging them to participate in the promotion of the welfare of the OFWs.

In his remarks during the closing ceremonies held at the Embassy, Ambassador Modena congratulated the 16 volunteers for their commitment to help fellow workers.  He emphasized the importance of well-informed workers against those who are ignorant of their rights and obligations.  He added that the 16 graduates will now have the power to impart to fellow OFWs the tools that would protect them from abuse, vigorously defend their rights and effectively perform their obligations under Israeli and Philippine Laws.

Ambassador Modena also congratulated the Philippine Labor Office headed by Atty. Teresita Manzala, the Federation of Filipino Communities in Israel (FFCI) and Mesila for initiating this project that would benefit both the Philippine and Israeli government.  He said that the Facilitators Training Seminar on Labor Rights and Visa Related Issues is a priority project of the Embassy since “we would like to create awareness among the OFWs of their rights as workers to protect them from exploitation.”

Labor Attaché Manzala encouraged the participants to keep their interests on workers rights and responsibilities as she promised to continue seeking ways and means to improve the communication lines between the OFWs, the Philippine Embassy and various offices of the Israeli government

Ms. Maya Gelbert, Mesila Officer representing Mesila-Tel Aviv Director Tamar Schwartz, challenged the participants to apply what they learned. She said, “it is only the commencement of a greater responsibility.”

Consul General Gilberto G. B. Asuque and FFCI President Anna Gonzaga assisted in distributing certificates of completion to the participants.  END

/epa

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