Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver and Attached Labor Agencies Conduct Filipino Migrant Workers Assemble 2024 in Kelowna

Consul General Arlene T. Magno opens the Filipino Migrant Workers Assembly 2024 at the University of British Columbia - Okanagan Campus in Kelowna, British Columbia

09 July 2024 – More than 50 Filipino overseas workers attended the Filipino Migrant Workers Assembly 2024 held at the Nechako Gathering, University of British Columbia – Okanagan Campus in Kelowna, British Columbia on 06 July 2024.

The Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver joined the Migrant Workers Office (MWO) - Vancouver and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) - Vancouver in organizing the event, with the support of McDonald’s Restaurants of Kelowna.  The Assembly is the third of its kind, following the ones held in Edmonton, AB in 2022 and Victoria, BC last year.

This year’s topics covered financial literacy, Philippine government services for migrant workers, employment and human rights law in BC, and immigration policies for migrant workers.  In her opening remarks, Consul General Arlene Magno pointed to Canada’s reliance on foreign workers, Filipinos included, to run its economic engine and assured them that for as long as Filipino workers will continue to come to Canada, the Philippine Consulate General will be there for them.

Ms. Mai Capilitan Harsche of Royal Bank of Canada - resource speaker on Financial Literacy

Atty. Dulce Cuenca of the Professional Institute of Public Service of Canada - resource speaker on Employment and Human Rights Law in BC

Mr. Jonathon Braun of the Migrant Workers Centre (seated, rightmost) - resource speaker on Immigration Policies for Migrant Workers

Resource speakers on Philippine government services for migrant workers (clockwise from the top):  Mr. Kervin Mon Perez, Consular Assistant at the Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver, Ms. Oliva Macawili, Assistant Labor Attache and Officer-in-Charge of MWO-Vancouver, Ms. Jonnah Cruzada, SSS Vancouver Representative, and Mr. Allan Ignacio, Welfare Officer