BALANGA CITY — Bishop Ruperto C. Santos of the Diocese of Balanga on Labor Day urged government to continue promoting workers’ rights and to prevent them from exploitation and from unscrupulous agencies and employers.
“To celebrate this May 1 for the workers, especially the migrants and seafarers, is to implement and enact laws for their benefits as to protect them from unjust, unfair practices,” the Bataan prelate said.
He asked that those who victimized the migrants, those who abused them, should be investigated and prosecuted.
Santos said that the Filipino migrants and seafarers have shown to the world their dedication and determination to make their assigned tasks efficiently done.
“Amidst separation from our country and amidst this troubling and trying time brought by the coronavirus pandemic, they continue effectively and efficiently in their work places,” the bishop said.
“We appreciate and are grateful for their resiliency, courage and strength to labor harder and honestly for our country and for their family,” Santos added.
He said that the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines–Episcopal Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People has informed diocesan desk migrant ministries and chaplaincies to pray and offer Holy Masses for the workers.
