More than 200 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the British Virgin Islands received labor and welfare assistance during a two-day government outreach mission held from 1 to 8 June in Tortola.
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said Wednesday that the Migrant Workers Office (MWO) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) in Washington, D.C. organized the service caravan, which included contract verification, OWWA membership renewal, and labor consultations.
There are around 800 OFWs working in the British Virgin Islands, mostly in healthcare, construction, hospitality, and domestic service sectors.
Labor Attaché Saul De Vries said the outreach was initiated due to the limited ability of OFWs in the British Virgin Islands to travel to the MWO in Washington — located more than 2,600 kilometers away.
The activity also featured virtual orientations for around 45 OFWs conducted by representatives from the Social Security System, Pag-IBIG Fund, PhilHealth, and the Overseas Filipino Bank.
MWO and OWWA officials likewise met with British Virgin Islands Governor Daniel Pruce to address pending labor complaints involving Filipino workers.