Welfare Case Officer Laisa Bucag interviewed family of an OFW.

Welfare Case Officer Mialou Batican explained to the NOKs (next of kins) the flow of their request for assistance

Davao City – In line with its mandate to provide social protection and promote the welfare of the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and their families, the OWWA  Regional Welfare Office XI continues to provide assistance to all OFWs and their families with welfare concerns.

For the year 2019, OWWA-Regional Welfare Office XI has resolved a total of 1,037 out of 1,589 cases received and handled by the region’s Welfare Case Officers.  Among the cases filed by the next-of-kin of the OFWs include: physical illness, overwork, forced extension of contract, inadequate food provision, maltreatment (verbal abuse/threats), non-communication, physical abuse, sexual harassment, unpaid/delayed salary, whereabouts unknown, financial support, and imprisonment. Most cases are prevalent in the Middle East countries.

The above-mentioned requests for assistance received by the office were properly endorsed to the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) to look into these cases.

Welfare Case Management is part of the Social Services and Family Welfare Services of OWWA which aims to address and resolve OFWs’ problems and concerns including assistance on OFW’s whereabouts, psycho-social counseling, mediation/ conciliation with the employer, airport assistance, hospital/ prison/ work camp visitation, and legal assistance to OFWs who wish to pursue a labor/ welfare case against their employer in the host country, among others. (OWWA XI)