A New Dawn for OFW Rights? Blockchain’s Promise
The plight of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) is a complex tapestry woven with threads of economic necessity, aspiration, and, all too often, exploitation. Millions leave the Philippines each year in search of better opportunities, contributing significantly to the nation’s economy through remittances, which constitute a substantial portion of the nation’s GDP. However, this pursuit of a better life frequently comes at a high cost: unfair labor practices, delayed or unpaid wages, exorbitant recruitment fees that can plunge them into debt, and limited legal recourse when things go wrong, particularly when navigating the complexities of international law.
Now, a nascent technology—blockchain—is emerging as a potential disruptor, offering a glimmer of hope for a more equitable and transparent future for OFWs. Could blockchain-powered work contracts be the key to unlocking fair pay and enhanced protection for these vital contributors to the global workforce? The promise of blockchain lies in its decentralized and immutable nature. Unlike traditional systems that rely on intermediaries and centralized databases, blockchain distributes information across a network of computers, making it virtually tamper-proof.
This is particularly relevant in the context of international labor migration, where the lack of transparency and accountability often leaves OFWs vulnerable. For example, unscrupulous recruitment agencies may inflate fees or misrepresent contract terms, leaving workers with little power to negotiate or seek redress. Blockchain, by creating a transparent and verifiable record of all transactions and agreements, can help to mitigate these risks, fostering ethical recruitment practices and empowering workers with greater control over their employment terms.
Smart contracts, a key application of blockchain technology, offer further potential for revolutionizing OFW work agreements. These self-executing contracts, written into code and stored on the blockchain, can automate various aspects of the employment relationship, such as wage payments, remittance transfers, and even dispute resolution. Imagine a scenario where an OFW’s wages are automatically deposited into their digital wallet on a pre-determined schedule, eliminating the risk of delayed or unpaid compensation. Or a system where contract disputes are resolved through a transparent and impartial arbitration process facilitated by a smart contract.
Such applications could significantly reduce the administrative burden and costs associated with traditional contract management while ensuring greater fairness and accountability for both employers and employees. From a business perspective, blockchain-powered work contracts can also offer significant advantages to employers. By streamlining the recruitment process, reducing administrative overhead, and improving transparency, companies can lower their operating costs and enhance their reputation as ethical employers. This is particularly important in industries that rely heavily on migrant labor, where concerns about labor rights and fair treatment are increasingly scrutinized by consumers and investors.
Moreover, blockchain can facilitate faster and more secure remittance transfers, reducing transaction fees and improving the efficiency of cross-border payments. This can benefit both employers and OFWs, as it ensures that wages are received promptly and securely, without being eroded by exorbitant fees or exchange rate fluctuations. However, the widespread adoption of blockchain-powered work contracts for OFWs is not without its challenges. Digital literacy remains a significant barrier, as many OFWs may lack the skills and access to technology needed to navigate blockchain platforms.
Regulatory frameworks also need to adapt to this new technology, ensuring that smart contracts are legally enforceable and that workers’ rights are adequately protected. Furthermore, interoperability between different blockchain systems is crucial to ensure that contracts can be easily accessed and verified across borders. Addressing these challenges will require a collaborative effort involving governments, technology companies, NGOs, and international organizations, all working together to create a supportive ecosystem that empowers OFWs and promotes fair and ethical labor practices in the global marketplace.
The Pre-Blockchain Landscape: A Minefield of Exploitation
Before the advent of blockchain, the landscape for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) often resembled a minefield, fraught with risks and vulnerabilities. Traditional work contracts, often opaque and convoluted, were susceptible to manipulation by unscrupulous actors, leaving OFWs with limited recourse. Enforcing these contracts across international borders proved a significant challenge, exacerbating the power imbalance between employers and employees. Recruitment agencies, operating with minimal oversight, frequently levied exorbitant fees, trapping workers in cycles of debt before they even earned their first paycheck.
This predatory practice, unfortunately common in the pre-blockchain era, effectively indentured many OFWs, undermining their fundamental labor rights. A 2022 report by the International Labour Organization (ILO) highlighted that nearly 20% of migrant workers globally experience wage theft, a statistic that underscores the pervasive nature of exploitation and the urgent need for innovative solutions like blockchain. The lack of transparency in traditional recruitment and employment processes further compounded the challenges faced by OFWs. Without a clear and readily accessible record of contractual agreements, workers were often left vulnerable to unfair treatment, including delayed or unpaid wages, withheld benefits, and even passport confiscation.
Navigating the legal systems in foreign countries, often with language barriers and limited resources, presented another formidable obstacle for OFWs seeking redress. The existing system, heavily reliant on intermediaries and often plagued by corruption, created an environment ripe for exploitation and financial hardship. From a business perspective, this lack of transparency also created risks for employers, potentially exposing them to reputational damage and legal liabilities. The absence of a secure and verifiable system for managing worker contracts hindered efficient operations and increased the likelihood of disputes.
The plight of OFWs, a critical driver of the Philippine economy through remittances, highlighted the broader human rights implications of this exploitative system. The desperation for better economic opportunities often forced individuals to accept precarious working conditions, sacrificing their fundamental rights for the promise of a better future for their families. The intersection of business, technology, and human rights becomes starkly apparent in the context of international labor migration, underscoring the need for ethical recruitment practices and robust legal frameworks to protect vulnerable workers.
The pre-blockchain era, characterized by information asymmetry and limited accountability, failed to adequately address these critical issues, paving the way for the transformative potential of decentralized technologies. Furthermore, the pre-blockchain landscape presented significant challenges for global businesses seeking to engage ethical and sustainable labor practices. Due diligence and supply chain transparency were hampered by the complexities of international labor migration and the lack of reliable information about recruitment agencies and worker conditions. This opacity made it difficult for businesses to ensure their operations were free from exploitation and aligned with international labor standards.
The advent of blockchain technology offers a potential solution to these challenges, providing a transparent and verifiable system for tracking worker contracts and ensuring compliance with ethical guidelines. This shift towards greater transparency not only empowers workers but also benefits businesses by mitigating reputational and legal risks associated with unethical labor practices. From a world affairs perspective, the vulnerability of OFWs highlights the interconnectedness of global economies and the need for international cooperation to address labor exploitation.
The flow of migrant workers across borders underscores the importance of harmonizing labor standards and establishing mechanisms for cross-border enforcement of worker rights. The pre-blockchain era, with its fragmented and often ineffective regulatory frameworks, struggled to adequately address these complex transnational challenges. Blockchain, with its potential to create a globally accessible and verifiable system for managing labor contracts, offers a promising avenue for strengthening international cooperation and promoting fair labor practices in the global economy.
Blockchain Basics: Building Blocks for Fair Contracts
Blockchain, at its core, is a distributed, immutable ledger. This means that information recorded on a blockchain is transparent, verifiable, and virtually impossible to alter. Applying this technology to work contracts creates a ‘smart contract’ – a self-executing agreement written into code. These smart contracts can automate various aspects of the employment relationship, from payment schedules to dispute resolution mechanisms. Imagine a scenario where an OFW’s wages are automatically released to their digital wallet upon verification of completed work, eliminating delays and the risk of non-payment.
Or a system where contract terms, including working conditions and termination clauses, are securely stored and accessible to both the OFW and their employer, fostering transparency and accountability. The decentralized nature of blockchain also reduces reliance on intermediaries, potentially lowering recruitment fees and empowering OFWs to negotiate more favorable terms. Think of blockchain as a digital notary and escrow agent, all rolled into one, ensuring fairness and security. From a business perspective, blockchain’s inherent transparency fosters trust, a crucial element in international labor migration.
Smart contracts can be programmed to automatically release remittance payments upon the fulfillment of pre-defined conditions, such as the completion of a specific task or the passage of a certain timeframe. This automation not only reduces administrative overhead but also minimizes the potential for human error or fraudulent activities. Moreover, the immutable nature of the blockchain provides an auditable trail of all transactions, enabling greater accountability and facilitating dispute resolution processes. This increased transparency can attract ethical employers seeking to demonstrate their commitment to fair labor practices, enhancing their reputation and attracting top talent.
Technologically, the architecture of a blockchain ensures data integrity through cryptographic hashing and consensus mechanisms. Each block of data contains a cryptographic hash of the previous block, creating a chain of interconnected records that are tamper-proof. This is particularly relevant in the context of OFW work contracts, where trust and security are paramount. For instance, a blockchain-based platform could store verified credentials of OFWs, such as skills certifications and employment history, enabling employers to quickly and efficiently assess their suitability for specific roles.
Furthermore, the use of decentralized technology reduces the risk of data breaches and unauthorized access, safeguarding sensitive information related to OFWs’ personal and financial details. In the realm of world affairs, the adoption of blockchain for OFW contracts could significantly impact international labor migration policies. By providing a secure and transparent platform for managing employment agreements, blockchain can help to combat human trafficking and forced labor, issues that disproportionately affect migrant workers. International organizations and governments can leverage blockchain technology to track the flow of remittances, monitor compliance with labor laws, and ensure that OFWs are treated fairly and ethically.
Furthermore, the use of blockchain can facilitate cross-border collaboration between different stakeholders, including recruitment agencies, employers, and government agencies, fostering a more coordinated and effective approach to protecting the rights of migrant workers. From a human rights and labor perspective, blockchain offers a powerful tool for empowering OFWs and promoting fair labor practices. By providing a transparent and immutable record of employment terms and conditions, blockchain can help to prevent exploitation and ensure that OFWs receive the wages and benefits they are entitled to.
Smart contracts can be designed to automatically enforce labor laws and regulations, such as minimum wage requirements and working hour limits, reducing the potential for abuse. Moreover, blockchain can provide OFWs with greater control over their personal data, allowing them to share their information securely and selectively with potential employers. This increased transparency and control can help to level the playing field and empower OFWs to negotiate more favorable terms of employment, ultimately promoting their well-being and protecting their fundamental rights. This contributes directly to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those related to decent work and economic growth, and reducing inequalities.
Unlocking the Potential: Benefits for OFWs and Employers
The potential benefits of blockchain-powered work contracts for OFWs are multifaceted, extending beyond mere efficiency to encompass fundamental aspects of labor rights and economic empowerment. * **Reduced Recruitment Fees:** By cutting out layers of intermediaries – often including multiple recruitment agencies each adding their markup – blockchain can significantly lower the costs associated with finding overseas employment. This reduction directly combats debt bondage, a common issue where OFWs are forced to work for months, or even years, simply to repay exorbitant recruitment fees.
Some blockchain-based platforms are exploring decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) to manage recruitment, further reducing costs and increasing transparency. This shift aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goal 8, which promotes decent work and economic growth, and directly addresses exploitative recruitment practices often criticized by human rights organizations. * **Automated Payments:** Smart contracts can ensure timely and accurate wage payments, directly to the OFW’s digital wallet, minimizing the risk of wage theft, a pervasive problem affecting migrant workers globally.
This automation eliminates the reliance on intermediaries who may delay or withhold wages, offering OFWs greater financial control and security. A report by the International Labour Organization (ILO) highlights the vulnerability of migrant workers to wage theft, emphasizing the need for mechanisms like blockchain-based smart contracts to protect their earnings. The use of stablecoins, cryptocurrencies pegged to a stable asset like the US dollar, within these smart contracts can also mitigate currency fluctuation risks, ensuring OFWs receive the full value of their earnings.
* **Secure Record-Keeping:** All contract details, work history, and payment records are securely stored on the blockchain, providing a tamper-proof audit trail. This immutability protects OFWs from contract alterations or disputes over wages and working conditions. Traditional paper-based contracts are easily lost, damaged, or falsified, leaving OFWs vulnerable. Blockchain’s secure record-keeping fosters trust and accountability within the employment relationship, providing a verifiable history that can be used in case of disagreements or legal proceedings. This also aligns with data protection principles, ensuring OFWs have control over their personal and employment information.
* **Transparent Contract Terms:** Clear and accessible contract terms, written in multiple languages and readily available on the blockchain, empower OFWs to understand their rights and obligations. This transparency combats the exploitation that often arises from complex or deliberately obfuscated contract language. Smart contracts can be designed to automatically translate key clauses into the OFW’s native language, ensuring full comprehension. This feature promotes informed consent and allows OFWs to make sound decisions about their employment, fostering a more equitable power dynamic between employer and employee.
* **Faster Dispute Resolution:** Blockchain-based dispute resolution mechanisms can offer a more efficient and cost-effective alternative to traditional legal channels, which are often inaccessible or unaffordable for OFWs. Decentralized arbitration platforms can facilitate fair and impartial resolutions, using smart contracts to enforce agreed-upon outcomes. These platforms leverage the transparency and immutability of the blockchain to ensure accountability and prevent corruption. Furthermore, the use of online dispute resolution (ODR) systems integrated with blockchain can overcome geographical barriers, allowing OFWs to resolve disputes remotely and efficiently.
* **Enhanced Remittance Efficiency:** Integrating blockchain with remittance services can significantly reduce transaction fees and speed up the process of sending money home. Traditional remittance channels often involve high fees charged by intermediaries, reducing the amount of money that actually reaches the OFW’s family. Blockchain-based remittance platforms can bypass these intermediaries, offering lower fees and faster transaction times. This is particularly important for OFWs who rely on remittances to support their families’ basic needs, education, and healthcare.
Several fintech companies are already leveraging blockchain to offer more affordable and efficient remittance services, demonstrating the practical application of this technology in the context of international labor migration. Beyond these direct benefits, blockchain technology can also foster ethical recruitment practices by promoting transparency and accountability throughout the entire recruitment process. By creating a verifiable record of all transactions and interactions, blockchain can help to eliminate corruption and exploitation. For educational administrators in international schools employing OFWs, these benefits translate to demonstrable ethical recruitment practices, streamlined payroll processes, and a stronger commitment to worker welfare, enhancing their institution’s reputation and attracting top talent. The shift towards decentralized technology also reflects a growing global awareness of labor rights and the need for greater protection for migrant workers, aligning with international standards and best practices.
Blockchain in Action: Pilot Projects and Early Successes
Beyond theoretical promise, blockchain technology is demonstrating real-world potential to transform the landscape of OFW employment. Several pilot projects offer compelling evidence of its efficacy in addressing long-standing challenges. A Singaporean consortium of tech companies and recruitment agencies is piloting a blockchain-based platform that streamlines the entire recruitment process for domestic workers. This platform not only reduces placement fees, which often cripple OFWs with debt before they even begin working, but also ensures fair wages and working conditions are contractually encoded and automatically enforced through smart contracts.
By eliminating unscrupulous intermediaries and promoting transparency, this initiative aims to foster a more equitable and ethical recruitment ecosystem. In the Philippines, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are exploring blockchain-based remittance systems. These systems aim to significantly reduce transaction costs, ensuring that a greater portion of hard-earned remittances reaches OFW families back home. Data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas reveals that OFW remittances contribute over 10% of the nation’s GDP, highlighting the macroeconomic impact of such cost reductions.
One notable project leverages a permissioned blockchain to facilitate secure and near-instantaneous cross-border money transfers, bypassing traditional banking systems and their associated fees. This not only empowers OFWs financially but also strengthens the Philippine economy. The potential of blockchain extends beyond individual projects. The Philippines Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) is actively exploring the integration of blockchain technology to streamline its operations and enhance the protection of OFW rights. By creating a secure and tamper-proof record of employment contracts, the POEA can improve transparency, reduce instances of contract substitution, and facilitate faster dispute resolution.
This move towards digitalization aligns with global trends in labor migration management and positions the Philippines as a leader in leveraging technology for ethical and efficient labor practices. Moreover, the immutability of blockchain records can be instrumental in combating human trafficking and forced labor, providing verifiable proof of employment terms and worker identities. While these pilot projects demonstrate the feasibility of blockchain-based solutions, wider adoption hinges on addressing key challenges. These include improving digital literacy among OFWs, fostering collaboration between stakeholders, and developing robust regulatory frameworks that ensure data privacy and security. Experts suggest that public-private partnerships, coupled with targeted educational programs, can pave the way for broader integration of blockchain technology, ultimately empowering OFWs and promoting fair labor practices within the global economy.
Navigating the Challenges: Digital Literacy and Regulatory Hurdles
Navigating the Challenges: Implementing Blockchain for OFW Contracts While the potential of blockchain to revolutionize OFW contracts is immense, several key challenges must be addressed to ensure successful implementation. These hurdles span technological literacy, regulatory frameworks, systems interoperability, and data privacy, demanding a multi-stakeholder approach for effective resolution. Digital literacy among OFWs poses a significant barrier. Many lack the necessary skills and access to technology required to navigate blockchain platforms. A 2023 study by the International Organization for Migration found that while smartphone penetration is high among migrant workers, digital literacy, particularly concerning blockchain technology, remains low.
This necessitates targeted training programs and user-friendly interfaces designed specifically for OFWs, empowering them to manage their contracts and finances effectively. Furthermore, ensuring accessibility across varying levels of internet connectivity is crucial, considering the diverse locations where OFWs are employed. Regulatory frameworks also need to adapt to this nascent technology. Currently, legal systems in both sending and receiving countries are ill-equipped to handle the decentralized and transnational nature of blockchain-based contracts. Clear legal definitions of smart contracts, dispute resolution mechanisms, and jurisdictional issues need to be established.
The International Labour Organization (ILO) has begun exploring these legal dimensions, advocating for international cooperation to create a harmonized regulatory landscape. This collaboration is essential to ensure legal enforceability and protect the rights of OFWs using blockchain contracts. Interoperability between different blockchain systems presents a technical challenge. Currently, various blockchain platforms operate independently, hindering seamless data exchange and potentially limiting the portability of OFW contracts. Standardized protocols and interoperability solutions are crucial to enable efficient communication between different platforms and ensure that OFWs can transition between employers without contractual complications.
Industry consortia and open-source initiatives are working towards developing such standards, fostering a more interconnected and efficient blockchain ecosystem. Data privacy is another paramount concern. Storing sensitive personal and financial information on a public ledger requires robust security measures. While blockchain’s inherent immutability offers protection against tampering, ensuring data confidentiality requires advanced cryptographic techniques and secure identity management systems. Compliance with international data privacy regulations, such as GDPR, is crucial to maintain OFW trust and prevent misuse of information.
Furthermore, transparent data governance policies must be established, clearly outlining data access rights and responsibilities. Addressing these challenges requires a collaborative effort. Governments must establish clear legal frameworks and invest in digital literacy programs. Tech companies need to develop user-friendly platforms and prioritize data security. NGOs can play a crucial role in educating OFWs and advocating for their rights. By working together, these stakeholders can unlock the full potential of blockchain, transforming the landscape of OFW employment and ensuring fair treatment and protection for these vital contributors to the global economy.
A Before-and-After Analysis: The Transformation of OFW Employment
The transition to blockchain-powered contracts represents a paradigm shift in how we approach OFW employment, moving from a system riddled with vulnerabilities to one potentially characterized by equity and transparency. Before blockchain, the landscape was often bleak: opaque contracts led to misunderstandings and exploitation, exorbitant recruitment fees plunged workers into debt, and limited legal recourse left many vulnerable. Now, with blockchain technology offering smart contracts and decentralized ledgers, we envision a future where contracts are transparent, payments are automated and secure, and OFWs are empowered to assert their labor rights with greater confidence.
This transformation hinges on overcoming challenges related to digital access and literacy, regulatory adaptation to decentralized technologies, and ensuring robust data privacy measures that protect sensitive worker information. The ‘before-and-after’ picture is stark. Previously, OFWs often faced unethical recruitment practices, with agencies charging fees sometimes equivalent to several months’ wages. According to a 2019 report by the International Labour Organization (ILO), migrant workers pay an average of $3,000 in recruitment fees globally, a figure that can be significantly higher for OFWs depending on the destination and type of work.
These fees often violate international labor standards and trap workers in debt bondage. Blockchain offers a solution by enabling direct connections between employers and employees, drastically reducing or eliminating the need for intermediaries and their associated costs. Smart contracts can further ensure that recruitment agencies adhere to ethical recruitment practices, with penalties automatically triggered for violations. Blockchain’s ability to automate remittance processes also presents a significant advantage. Traditional remittance channels often involve high transaction fees, sometimes eating into as much as 10% of the money sent home.
Given that remittances from OFWs contribute significantly to the Philippine economy – accounting for approximately 10% of the country’s GDP, according to the World Bank – even small reductions in these fees can have a substantial impact. Blockchain-based remittance platforms can offer near-instantaneous transfers with significantly lower fees, ensuring that more of the hard-earned money reaches the families who depend on it. Moreover, the transparency of the blockchain ledger provides a clear audit trail, reducing the risk of fraud and ensuring accountability.
However, the successful implementation of blockchain solutions requires a multi-pronged approach. Digital literacy initiatives are crucial to ensure that OFWs can effectively utilize blockchain platforms and understand their rights under smart contracts. These initiatives should focus on providing accessible training in local languages, utilizing mobile-friendly interfaces, and offering ongoing support to address any technical challenges. Furthermore, governments and international organizations must collaborate to develop clear legal frameworks that recognize and regulate blockchain-based work contracts, ensuring that they are enforceable across borders.
This includes addressing issues related to data privacy, cybersecurity, and dispute resolution. The potential rewards – a fairer and more equitable labor market for OFWs and the promotion of ethical labor migration – are well worth the concerted effort required. Beyond individual contracts, blockchain can also contribute to building a more robust and transparent ecosystem for international labor migration. By creating a secure and immutable record of worker qualifications, certifications, and employment history, blockchain can help to combat fraudulent documentation and improve the matching of workers with suitable job opportunities. This can also empower OFWs to build portable digital identities that they can use throughout their careers, giving them greater control over their personal data and enhancing their access to financial services and other opportunities. As blockchain technology continues to evolve, its potential to transform the lives of OFWs and promote fair labor practices on a global scale remains immense.
The Future is Decentralized: Empowering OFWs with Blockchain
Blockchain technology holds immense promise for revolutionizing the protection and fair treatment of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), impacting business, technology, world affairs, human rights, and labor. While challenges remain, the potential benefits – reduced recruitment fees, automated payments, secure record-keeping, and enhanced transparency – are too significant to ignore. These advantages create a ripple effect, impacting not only individual OFWs but also the broader landscape of international labor migration. By lowering the cost of recruitment and ensuring fair compensation, blockchain empowers OFWs to retain more of their hard-earned income, potentially boosting remittances and contributing further to the Philippine economy, a key aspect of the business and world affairs implications.
The increased financial security also strengthens their bargaining power and reduces their vulnerability to exploitation, directly addressing human rights concerns. From a technological standpoint, the decentralized and immutable nature of blockchain provides a much-needed solution to the persistent problem of contract manipulation and fraud. Smart contracts, automatically executing terms of agreement when conditions are met, eliminate the need for intermediaries, reducing opportunities for corruption and ensuring timely payments. This shift towards automated and transparent processes has profound implications for the recruitment industry, pushing for greater accountability and ethical practices.
For instance, BanQu, a blockchain-based supply chain platform, has been used to track ethical sourcing and ensure fair wages for workers in various industries, offering a model that could be adapted for OFW contracts. This technological disruption has the potential to reshape the recruitment landscape, driving businesses to adopt more ethical and transparent models. The impact on world affairs is equally significant. By promoting fair and ethical labor practices, blockchain technology can contribute to greater stability and cooperation between nations.
A more secure and transparent system for managing migrant labor can reduce international tensions arising from labor disputes and exploitation. Governments can leverage blockchain to monitor labor flows, enforce regulations, and ensure that international labor standards are upheld. This aligns with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 8, which promotes decent work and economic growth. In the realm of human rights, blockchain empowers OFWs by giving them greater control over their employment contracts and financial records.
The immutability of blockchain ensures that their work history and entitlements are securely documented, protecting them against wage theft and other forms of exploitation. This increased transparency also facilitates access to legal recourse in cases of dispute, leveling the playing field between workers and employers. Organizations like the International Labour Organization are exploring how blockchain can be used to combat forced labor and human trafficking, further demonstrating its potential to safeguard human rights within the global labor market.
Moving forward, collaboration between governments, NGOs, and the private sector is essential for realizing the full potential of blockchain for OFWs. This includes developing supportive regulatory frameworks, promoting digital literacy among OFWs, and investing in research and development to address the technical challenges. As we move further into the digital age, embracing blockchain technology is not just a technological advancement, but a crucial step towards creating a more just and equitable future for Overseas Filipino Workers and shaping a more ethical global labor market. Learn more about ongoing blockchain initiatives for migrant workers and explore opportunities to participate in pilot projects. Support organizations advocating for blockchain adoption, and contact your government representatives to encourage supportive regulations. The future of OFW rights may very well be written on the blockchain—let’s work together to make that future a reality.