OFWs in Bahamas facing retrenchment

About 1,000 overseas Filipino workers are facing retrenchment in the Bahamas, owing to a new labour policy, prompting the Philippine Embassy in Washington, DC to appeal on behalf of these Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs).

“The position of the Bahamas authorities is completely understandable, but it would be greatly appreciated if our workers could be allowed to keep their jobs for the time being. They must also be assured of certainty in terms of renewing their work permits so they could plan ahead,” Labour Attaché Luzviminda Padilla said.

This so-called ‘Bahamianisation’ policy, wherein the Bahamas give priority to the locals in terms of employment, comes on the heels of ongoing efforts in Saudi Arabia to get rid of foreigners who are illegally staying in the kingdom, and thus affecting many Filipinos.

Reports reaching Manila said that Padilla was with the team sent recently by Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Cuisia Jr to Nassau. He intends to speak with officials of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, host to OFWs who are housekeepers, cooks, hotel employees and medical workers.

The Philippine Embassy in Washington assumes consular jurisdiction over the Bahamas, following the closure of the Philippine Embassy in Havana, Cuba last year. Diplomatic relations between the Philippines and the Bahamas were established in 1976.

In a meeting with officials in Bahamas, the Philippine labour delegation from Washington expressed their concern over plans by host-government to suspend the issuance of work permits to foreigners, including Filipinos.

Bahamanian officials stressed their need to provide employment to their own citizens, although they acknowledged the contributions of OFWs in their economic progress.
 

Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.