Migrant sugar workers in 3 WV provinces to get aid
The Department of Labor and Employment will help improve the socio-economic conditions of the “sacadas” or disadvantaged migratory field workers in selected communities in three provinces of Western Visayas under its Integrated Services for Migrant Sugar Workers (I-SERVE Sacadas) project.
DOLE, in its online news said the provinces of Aklan, Negros Occidental and Antique, are among the five pilot provinces that stand to benefit from its I-SERVE package of services. Other pilot provinces include Negros Oriental and Camarines Sur.
According to the DOLE report, upon the recommendation of the Sugar Tripartite Council, Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapiliz-Baldoz had approved the I-SERVE Sacadas which will provide social protection and welfare for sacadas.
The project also intends to strengthen Sagip Batang Manggagawa Program for child laborers in sugar plantations and advocacies aimed at eliminating the worst forms of child labor under Republic Act 9231.
DOLE said some P10.7 million fund has been allocated for the project and initially about 2,000 families or 30,000 sacadas in the selected communities will benefit from the project.
Baldoz said in the press report that she has directed the Bureau of Workers with Special Concerns to establish a profile and database of migrant sugar workers for them to determine who will be the next beneficiaries.
The BWSC and concerned DOLE regional offices, added Baldoz will provide core enterprises and allied livelihood projects skills trainings and other capacity-building interventions to the sacadas.*PIA6
