Philippines-MoM HSW welfare pact soon 

(MENAFN - Muscat Daily) The Philippines is working on a new bilateral agreement with Oman on employment benefits and social welfare of Household Service Workers' (HSW).The Philippine Overseas Labour Office (POLO) at the country's embassy in Muscat, is drafting the agreement with the Ministry of Manpower, on further improving employment benefits to Filipino domestic workers, their protection and preventing their abuse. ''We are working on a number of areas to ensure that Filipino domestic workers' rights are protected in Oman,'' said Ernesto Bihis, labour attach at the Philippine Embassy in Muscat.According to Bihis, the number of abuse cases against Filipino domestic workers are very less in Oman compared to other GCC countries, especially Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. ''There have been some isolated cases of absconding workers but these are very limited and minimal,'' Bihis said.The agreement will set a minimum age and regulate the minimum wage at not less than US300 or RO115. ''Saudi Arabia has recently the removed ban on Filipino domestic workers and is strictly implementing the US400 (RO154) minimum salary rule. I hope other GCC countries including Oman will follow the Saudi model. Based on our records, Singapore and Malaysia are the best paying countries for Filipino domestic workers,'' he said.He said that training, including basic Arabic communication, is now a must for Filipino domestic workers deployed abroad.According to the Department of Labour and Employment and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration in Philippines, after the deployment, the recruitment agency shall be held accountable for six months for the welfare of its workers.