MANILA, Philippines — A new app that was developed by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) was to protect the welfare of Filipinos working abroad, a DMW official said on Friday.
Speaking on Bagong Pilipins Ngayon, DMW Undersecretary Bernard Olalia said the Kumusta Kabayan app would ask OFWs if their work conditions were safe, if their employers were treating them well, and if they ate and rested at the right time, among others.
“OFWs can answer these questions and once our DMW staff finds out there’s a problem, we will call them and will find remedies and will also contact our Migrant Workers Offices and labor attachés [who] will be able to contact them so they can be assisted and the problem gets solved right away,” he said.
Olalia said that the app was secure and protected by Data Privacy laws.
Olalia said the app may be downloaded from Google Play Store and the Apple App Store.
“All you have to do is to put your name, your contact number, address, and email address. And because there’s data privacy, we won’t share their data and that their personal information is safe with us,” Olalia said.
“So, we can expect that our OFWs that we will protect their identity and that their employer doesn’t know that they are reporting to us, should there be a problem. Only between the OFW and the DMW are the ones who know, as well as the labor attaché who will assist them,” he added.
The app was added to the app stores last Aug. 19 and introduced to OFWs on Sept. 9.
