7 May 2018 – The Philippine Embassy in Kuala Lumpur commemorated Labor Day and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration’s (OWWA) 36^th anniversary with events for its migrant community held at the Migrant Workers and Other Filipinos Resource Center (MWORFC) on May 6. 

Ambassador Charles C. Jose was the event’s guest of honor and keynote speaker.  Also present during the event were Madame Maria Victoria Jose, Labor Attaché Elizabeth Marie Estrada and Embassy officers and staff.

In his speech, Ambassador Jose highlighted the importance of the work and the steps that the Philippine Government is taking to address labor-related issues.

“The Philippine Government is taking determined steps to protect our workers in the country and overseas, such as the executive order to end contractualization of workers back home and the continued work of our diplomats to protect the welfare and interests of our nationals overseas,” he said.

“Rest assured that the Embassy continues to be of service to our nationals here in Malaysia, and is working hard to provide consular and assistance-to-nationals services to those who need them,” Ambassador Jose added.

During the event, Ambassador Jose also gave out certificates of recognition to the MWORFC’s resource persons for their assistance and support to the center’s skills training center.  These resource speakers teach courses at the MWORFC on a purely voluntary basis.

He also administered the oaths of office to the MWORFC-Council of Leaders (MWORFC-COL) and the presidents of each class.  The MWORFC-COL represents the students of the MWORFC-STC and assists in the Center’s management and other activities.  They also spearhead the Ms. MWORFC pageant, which also serves as fundraising for their programs and projects. 

Ambassador Jose also witnessed the turnover of the equipment and materials provided by the candidates and winners of the Ms. MWORFC last year, which included a car to be used for the automotive class.  The candidates for this year’s Ms. MWORFC were also presented during the celebration. 

This year, the MWORFC-STC has 35 classes attended by 830 students, covering basic nursing home care, computer studies (accounting for non-accountants, spreadsheets, Adobe Photoshop and basic publishing), cooking (baking and cake decorations, Asian and Intercontinental cuisine), cosmetology, reflexology, Bahasa Melayu, hair culture, dressmaking, kempo, Zumba, and automotive, are offered. 

These courses aim to teach or upgrade the skills of overseas Filipino workers in Malaysia to enable them to advance in their profession and/or to provide them with alternative livelihood options for their eventual return to the Philippines.  END