MARAWI CITY--Ministry of Labor and Employment’s Bureau of Employment Promotion and Welfare (MOLE-BEPW), in partnership with the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), conducted a Training of Trainers on Campaign Against Illegal Recruitment, Trafficking in Person, and Irregular Migration (CAIRTIM) on Wednesday, Nov. 10.

The training aimed to strengthen the capacity of the ministry’s employees in disseminating information on the strategies in countering illegal recruitment and trafficking of Bangsamoro Overseas Filipino workers from the region.

“Malaking hamon sa amin sa MOLE lalo na sa BEPW, kung saan hawak namin yung registration and accreditation ng mga recruitment agencies (it is a big challenge for us at MOLE especially at BEPW, where we handle the registration and accreditation of recruitment agencies),” said BEPW Director Sarah Jane S. Sinsuat.

Discussed during the training were the local situationer on migration and issues in BARMM, legal modes of working abroad, challenges and risks of working abroad, recognizing illegal recruitment and human trafficking, and effective reporting and prosecution of illegal recruiters, among others.

MOLE Minister Romeo Sema said the training was a part of the ‘moral governance’ advocacy and commitment of the Bangsamoro Government in serving the people of the region

“May we continue to uphold the right against abuse, trafficking, and illegal recruitment. Let us all take this as a great opportunity, a learning experience, and a chance to get better and more effective as public servants,” he said.

Sema also expressed his gratitude to the POEA for the support and dedication to the labor force of the BARMM to effectively implement its programs and services.

Administrator Bernard Olalia said POEA is committed to protect the rights of every overseas Filipino worker in the country.

"Sa pamamagitan din ng capacity enhancement training ng MOLE ay patuloy nating maisasakatuparan na masugpo ang illegal recruitment at wala ng biktima pa ang mga di lisensyado o awtorisadong recruitment agencies na nag-aalok ng trabahong abroad (through MOLE's capacity enhancement training, we will continue to be able to curb illegal recruitment and have no victims of unlicensed or unauthorized recruitment agencies that offer jobs abroad,)" Olalia said.

He also called on the participation of everyone in fighting the challenge of illegal recruitment and human trafficking that victimizes many OFWs in the country. (Bangsamoro Information Office)