OWWA provides overseas Filipino workers with insurance that will benefit their families.
On Saipan, OWWA learned that some workers who passed away on island failed to renew their annual membership contribution of $25.
Their families were not able to get insurance benefits which are 100,000 pesos, or $2,100, in case of natural death and 200,000 pesos, or $4,200, for accidental death.
Last month’s increase in OWWA membership was due to the upcoming implementation of the federalization law, Tayag said.
Many Filipino workers went on vacation and were required to update their OWWA membership.
As of 2008, only 3,325 of the estimated 8,000 Filipino workers in the CNMI renewed their OWWA membership.
Tayag said OWWA, the Philippine Overseas Labor Office and the Philippine Consulate General continue to remind Filipino workers about the importance of getting insurance.
“I hope they will give importance to their membership because we don’t know what can happen to us,” he said.
OWWA membership posted an increase of 45.85 percent in August, compared to 19.28 percent in July.
In 2004, there were 2,311 OWWA members in the CNMI; 2,856 in 2005; 2,917 in 2006; 2,758 in 2007; and 3,325 in 2008.
Last month, 299 renewed their OWWA membership, Tayag said.
