KUALA LUMPUR - Senator Raffy Tulfo has called for the creation of a Migrant Workers Relations Commission (MWRC) to handle labour disputes involving overseas Filipino workers (OFW), Republic of the Philippines reported.

Tulfo said the proposed body would be a separate quasi-judicial commission focused solely on cases concerning Filipino migrant workers.

He filed Senate Bill No. 1480, or the proposed Migrant Workers Relations Commission Act, to address delays and backlogs in the current system.

“The National Labor Relations Commission processes over 30,000 cases each year, making OFW cases especially susceptible to delays and backlogs.

“Currently, cases related to OFWs such as illegal termination, unpaid wages, and various contract disputes are primarily handled by the NLRC,” he said.

Tulfo said the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) is already managing both local and overseas worker cases, leading to heavier workloads.

“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 OFW in their pursuit of justice,” he added.

Under the bill, the proposed MWRC will have exclusive authority to hear all cases involving Filipino migrant workers, both land-based and sea-based.

Tulfo said the new commission would speed up the resolution of OFW complaints and prevent workers from facing long and complicated procedures.

The MWRC will be placed under the Department of Migrant Workers to ensure more consistent and coordinated policies on overseas employment.

Tulfo said the creation of the new commission reflects the government’s commitment to uphold and protect the rights of Filipino workers abroad.