Senator Raffy Tulfo is calling for the establishment of a separate commission that will focus solely on resolving labor disputes involving overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), citing long-standing delays in the current system.
Through Senate Bill No. 1480, or the Migrant Workers Relations Commission (MWRC) Act, Tulfo is proposing a specialized quasi-judicial body under the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) that would have exclusive jurisdiction over all OFW-related cases.
He stressed that the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC), which currently handles these disputes, faces an overwhelming caseload. “The National Labor Relations Commission processes over 30,000 cases each year, making OFW cases especially susceptible to delays and backlogs,” Tulfo said.
The senator added that the NLRC’s workload covers both local and overseas workers, contributing to prolonged processing times for OFW cases. “Although the NLRC is a well-established and vital organization, its responsibility extends to both local and overseas workers, resulting in a substantial increase in caseloads. Reports indicate that this large volume of cases has caused considerable delays, adversely affecting OFWs in their pursuit of justice,” he said.
If approved, the MWRC would focus on addressing disputes such as illegal termination, unpaid wages, and contract violations, with the goal of delivering speedier resolutions for Filipino migrant workers.
