LIBYA ADDRESSES CONCERNS OF FILIPINO WORKERS
Among the issues aired by Filipino workers include not only delays in the remittance of salaries and benefits but in some cases even nonpayment of salaries of the more than 1,000 nurses and hospital workers in Libya
A top Libyan official assured the Philippine Embassy in Tripoli that authorities are working to address the concerns of hundreds of Filipino nurses and other hospital workers, particularly regarding their salary.
In a message to the Daily Tribune, Philippine Charge’ d’Affaires Elmer Cato said that the assurance was made by Libyan Health Minister Ahmed Mohamed Omar during a recent meeting.
Cato said that the embassy is hopeful that problems encountered by Filipinos working in most government hospitals and in some private clinics across Libya would soon be resolved as a result of the meeting.
Among the concerns aired by Filipino workers include not only delays in the remittance of salaries and benefits but also delays and in some cases even nonpayment of salaries of the more than 1,000 Filipino nurses and hospital workers in Libya.
Cato said Omar, who is currently in Manila, assured him that steps are being taken to address the concerns that the embassy first brought to his attention in May.
“The minister said he is coordinating closely with the Office of the Prime Minister and with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Labor, and the Ministry of Finance in resolving the issues,” said Cato.
Cato said that Omar also informed him that a comprehensive review of existing policies in the payment and remittance of salaries and benefits of expatriate health workers is now ongoing and a focal person has been designated to work closely with the embassy in resolving monetary claims of Filipino hospital workers.