Labor Attache' Atty. Jalilo Dela Torre

My dear OFWs in Israel:

I consider it a privilege to be working here for you in Israel, and for the next two years, it would be an honor to serve you as your Labor Attache. I look forward to closer collaboration with your leaders and with your communities in conceptualizing and pursuing initiatives designed to benefit our community here.

I will pursue an advocacy to convince Israeli society that we can do so much more than caregiving. While the work of caregivers is important, the Filipino community here and back home is so much more diverse in skills, and the Israeli economy can be better served if more skilled Filipino workers are given employment here. After all, we have very distinct advantages over other expatriate workers: we can communicate in English, we learn Hebrew very quickly and our work ethic is admired by employers all over the world.

Reintegation through computer education is also on top of my agenda. In Saudi Arabia, my computer-related initiatives have benefited thousands of OFWs. You can never go wrong with computer education. It is the need of the day. While we look forward to being reunited with our families someday, we need to acquire new skills sets to be able to compete in a rapidly globalizing world economy.

Rights education is also a need here that I have recognized and Iwill be coordinating with human rights groups, welfare groups, the FFCI and Israeli lawyers who are sympathetic to the community to join me in undertaking a regular Know Your Rights Seminar for OFWs in Israel. It is important that your rights as foreign workers before the Labor Courts, the police, the Immigration authorities are recognized and respected. At the same time, you also need to make sure that your family and property rights in the Philippines are protected.

(SGD.) Atty. Jalilo Dela Torre
Labor Attache'

Welfare Officer Albert Valenciano

MESSAGE

UNDER CONSTRUCTION!