MWO-WDC HOLDS INFORMATION AND SERVICE CARAVAN IN BVI

PRESS RELEASE

WDC-43-2025

11 June 2025

Embassy Press and Information Section

info@phembassy-us.org

 

The Migrant Workers Office and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration in Washington, DC (MWO-OWWA WDC) held a two-day information and service caravan on 7 and 8 June 2025 at the Save the Seed Energy Centre in Tortola, British Virgin Islands (BVI). More than 200 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) availed of contract verification services, OWWA membership renewal and labor consultation services during the caravan.  

 

About 800 OFWs are working in BVI, a British Overseas Territory in the Caribbean. They work in various sectors including health and social work, finance, hotel and restaurants, wholesale and retail trade, construction, and household and personal services. Most of them can be found in the main islands of Tortola and Virgin Gorda. 

 

On the sidelines of the caravan, Labor Attaché Saul De Vries and Welfare Officer Mae Codilla met with BVI Governor Daniel Pruce and discussed workplace issues and pending complaints of Filipino migrants in the territory. “We appreciate the interest of the Governor to listen to the labor concerns of our OFWs and his willingness to relay the same to appropriate authorities within the BVI government.” De Vries said. “We also thank the BVI for the employment opportunities it provides to Filipinos in search of employment options,” he added. Community leaders Christine Harry and Ms. Florenda Ruffell Smith actively participated in the discussion with the Governor.                                                                                                                                         

 

The caravan also featured virtual presentations from representatives of Social Security System, Pag-IBIG, PhilHealth and OF Bank, who took turns orienting around 45 OFWs on their agency programs including high-yielding investment options, which Filipino migrants may consider. Programs and services of the MWO and OWWA were also presented.

 

The Filipino Association of British Virgin Islands helped organize the caravan. Mr. Jo Mari Rifareal and Ms. Freya Palad joined the MWO-OWWA Team that conducted the activity.

 

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