PH envoys serve OFWs, meet with British Virgin Isles officials

Overseas Filipino workers in the British Virgin Islands in the Caribbean wait to be served during the Philippine Embassy in Washington’s consular outreach. CONTRIBUTED

WASHINGTON, DC – Coinciding with a recent consular outreach mission to provide services to Filipinos in the British Virgin Islands, Philippine Embassy officers initiated talks for a labor cooperation agreement with BVI officials.

The outreach mission renewed the passports of 274 OFWs in this British Overseas Territory in the Caribbean, verified 68 employment contracts and processed 137 OWWA membership applications. The mission was conducted with the support of the officers and volunteers of the Filipino Association of the BVI.

The British Virgin Islands is home to approximately 600 Filipinos, mostly working in the financial service sector, construction industry, and in the hotel and hospitality industry.

The Embassy delegation, led by Consul General Iric C. Arribas, initiated virtual talks for a labor cooperation agreement with the British Virgin Islands Premier Minister Hon. Andrew Fahie.

Virtual meeting between(clockwise from top left) Consul General Iric Arribas, Labor Attaché Angela Trinidad Assistant Labor Attaché Marie Josephine Borromeo, Welfare Officer Mae Codilla, and BVI Premier Minister, Hon. Andrew Fahie. CONTRIBUTED

The Embassy, through its Philippine Overseas Labor Office, advocates for ethical and fair recruitment practices among stakeholders. It has been actively engaging with host country counterparts in the US and the Caribbean Islands to discuss concerns and issues that affect OFWs.

Joining Consul General Arribas in the virtual meeting were Labor Attaché Angela Trinidad, Assistant Labor Attaché Marie Josephine Borromeo, Welfare Officer Mae Codilla, and Florenda Ruffell Smith (resident of the Filipino Association of the BVI, a local Filipino organization).

Discussions also touched on exploring areas of cooperation with BVI in ensuring safe migration, disaster risk reduction and management, and investment promotion.