An aspiring Filipino welder bound for South Africa, who sought assistance from the DAILY TRIBUNE’s digital show Usapang OFW earlier this month, has reached a settlement with his Philippine recruitment agency following deployment delays.

Reynante Putot, along with 19 other affected workers, has settled with Marlow People’s Solutions Inc. (MPSI) at the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) on Wednesday.

Putot was originally scheduled to depart on 8 August of last year and despite having signed a contract and completing all employment requirements, including medical exams and a pre-departure orientation, he and the other workers remained in limbo for around six months. MPSI initially attributed the delay to the workers’ visa release schedule.

DAILY TRIBUNE reached out to MPSI last 18 March but the agency declined to comment.

“We are addressing this concern directly with the workers and with DMW,” MPSI said.

According to DMW Undersecretary for Foreign Employment and Welfare Felicitas Bay, citing reports from the Land-based Accreditation Bureau, MPSI has no accredited employer in South Africa. However, the agency does have a job order for welders under its recognized principal, Workforce Staffing Botswana.

DMW Assistant Secretary for Licensing and Adjudication Services Jerome Alcantara also explained that political changes in Botswana halted the deployment of the workers.

“Deployment in Botswana was halted because of the election; the new government is a bit against the influx of migrant workers,” Alcantara said.

As part of the settlement, Putot confirmed that MPSI will provide financial assistance to the affected workers, who are set to claim it at the DMW next month.