[ LETTER OF INSTRUCTIONS No. 1516, January 26, 1986 ]

ENHANCING ON-SITE ASSISTANCE TO WORKERS THE REGIONAL LABOR CENTER

TO:
The Minister, Ministry of Labor and Employment
The Minister, Ministry of Tourism

In view of the need to provide adequate on-site protection to contract workers overseas and pursuant to the authority granted under Executive Order 797, you are hereby instructed to:
  1. Immediately set up two Regional Labor Centers, one each for Europe and Asia, with functions and responsibilities similar to that of the Regional Labor Center for Africa and the Middle East.  An amount of TEN MILLION PESOS (10 M) from the Ministry of Tourism's share  of the  workers travel  tax  shall be  appropriated annually to help support the two centers;

  2. Set up a corps of local legal retainers in countries where there is a sizeable number of Filipino workers who shall provide free legal services to workers whenever  necessary.  For this purpose, an annual sum of FIVE MILLION PESOS (P5 M) shall be set aside from the Welfare Fund for Overseas Workers;
Done in the City of Manila, this 26th day of January, 1986.

(Sgd.)  FERDINAND E. MARCOS
President