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Helping Distressed Ofws Bounce Back

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Helping distressed OFWs bounce back TO WHAT extend are you willing to earn a living? Ronald Espiritu, a 33-year-old oversea Filipino worker (OFW) based in Miami, Florida endured hunger, fatigue, and worse, a measly salary—way below the minimum wage—just to make a living, according to a report in Pinoy-OFW.com. Along with a group of fellow Filipino workers, Espiritu may have had never seen daylight outside W South Beach hotel, Lincoln Road’s Quattro Italian restaurant, and Admiral’s Cove country club in Jupiter where he worked 100 hours weekly as a waiter and bellboy. His nights weren’t any better. As if there was enough time for a recommended eight-hour sleep, Espiritu always returned to a small barrack, where he and several other …show more content…

Espiritu is set to go back to the Philippines once the suit is settled. But what exactly is waiting for him back in his home land? Reintigration While most organizations fight human trafficking through more direct ways, such as assistance in filing complaints among others, the National Reintigration Center for OFWs (NRCO) helps victims of human trafficking or any migrant returnees to “bounce back” after life in abroad. According to NCRO Director Rustico Dela Fuente, many returning migrant workers in the Philippines fall into the trap of splurging on their hard-earn money, eventually ending up with nothing again. “This is what we want to prevent—the ‘from rags to riches and to rags again’ cycle,” Oak said in an interview, adding that planning an OFW’s return is imperative. “Mainly, we take care of reintigration needs of migrant workers [here in NRCO],” said Dela Fuente. “We help them find new jobs and renew their lives.” The Department of Labor and Employment-backed organization offers OFW returnees services, ranging from reintigration plan counseling and skills training to financial assistance. Clemente Enrique, a former OFW, remembered that he was at a loss when the the company he was working for in Saudi Arabia suddenly shut down. But with the help of NRCO along with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Enrique was able to bounce back. “I decided to

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