Philippine officials in the Czech Republic must be proactive and ensure they have the capability to ensure “equal pay” and other benefits for thousands of Filipino workers there.
Sen. Robinhood “Robin” C. Padilla stressed this in a courtesy meeting with officials of the Philippine Embassy in Prague Tuesday afternoon (Tuesday evening in Manila).
“Bilang paghahanda, nakikita natin ang pangangailangan na maging proactive ang ating gobyerno at siguraduhing handa ang ating Embahada na tutukan ang mga pangangailangan ng ating mga manggagawang Pilipino. Nararapat na siguraduhin na ang Embahada natin sa Czech Republic ay may sapat na mga empleyado upang mapangalagaan hindi lamang ang kapakanan ng ating mga kababayan pati na din ang ating bilateral relations sa Czech Republic (Our government needs to become proactive and our embassy in particular should be prepared not only in ensuring the welfare of our Filipino workers there, but also in enhancing our bilateral relations with the Czech Republic),” said Padilla.
He promised to do everything he can to help in this preparation.
There are at least 7,000 skilled Filipino workers who may avail of “equal pay” in the Czech Republic.
Following the state visit of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. to the Czech Republic last March, an agreement was forged to allow the entry of some 10,000 Filipino workers to the Czech Republic every year.
“Mabuting balita po ito lalo na’t ang Czech Republic ang unang bansa sa Europa na nagbigay ng ‘equal wage’ para sa mga banyagang manggagawa nito (This is good news especially since the Czech Republic is the first country to give ‘equal wages’ to foreign laborers working there),” said Padilla.
During the meeting, Padilla and the officials of the Philippine embassy also tackled the good relations between the Philippines and Czech Republic.
Present at the meeting were Padilla, Philippine Ambassador Eduardo R. Menez; Consul General Indhira Banares; and labor attache Atty. Llewelyn Perez.
Padilla is in the Czech Republic to study its policies on the use of medical cannabis. Padilla is pushing for the legalization of medical cannabis in the Philippines, as a low-cost and effective alternative to medicines used to address various illnesses.
