THE Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) yesterday assured hundreds of thousands of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) displaced by the COVID-19 pandemic of continued legal assistance.
In a statement, POEA Administrator Bernard Olalia said the legal assistance program will now go online.
“This is to ensure the timely and effective delivery of legal services in order to safeguard the rights and welfare of OFWs,” said Olalia. “With limited transportation and mobility options, not only is the service convenient, it is also aligned with stay at home and community quarantine requirements.”
Under the legal assistance program, all overseas jobseekers, OFWs, and their immediate families need of free legal assistance are advised to log-on to the POEA Legal Assistance online platform at legalassistance.poea.gov.ph; or e-mail the Legal Assistance Division at legalassistance.poea@gmail.com.
Before the pandemic, Olalia said the POEA has provided legal aid to more than 620 clients as of mid-March. Issues brought before the POEA include contract violations, non-payment of wages and benefits, and various forms of abuse, among others.
On Tuesday, the Department of Labor and Employment said 341,161 OFWs have been displaced by the pandemic.
