Senator Cynthia Villar has urged the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to register all the household workers of diplomats with the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) and ensure hat they are members of the Overseas Workers’ Welfare Administration (OWWA).

This is to make sure that the workers will be protected, following the alleged maltreatment of Philippine Ambassador to Brazil Marichu Mauro to her staff.

Villar said that her office checked with the POEA and OWWA and found out that neither of the two agencies have any records of the employment of Ambassador Mauro’s domestic worker.

“Since our laws have clearly given the task of regulating overseas employment to the POEA and the care for the welfare of OFWs to OWWA, then this should also fairly apply to workers brought by ambassadors and other foreign service personnel to work in their residences abroad,” Villar said.

She added: “Under POEA rules, diplomats are allowed to directly hire domestic workers, but their contracts still need to be registered with the POEA.

“Why was this not followed in the case of Ambassador Mauro? Or is this being followed at all?”

The lady senator also questioned the non-membership of the Filipina worker to OWWA, which could’ve provided her more benefits.

“Why are the domestic workers of our ambassadors not even OWWA members? They should also be entitled to the same benefits as that enjoyed by overseas domestic workers hired by foreign employers,” Villar said.