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OFWs in HK press DMW’s Ople for response to demands

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Migrant workers in Hong Kong (HK) are demanding a response to a list of complaints they submitted in a dialogue with Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and Philippine Consulate officials last April.

More than a month after their FilCom(Filipino Community) Leaders Meeting in the Chinese territory, Migrante-HK said they have yet to hear migrant workers secretary Susan Ople’s official response to their complaints, prompting them to write another letter to the DMW.

The migrant workers pressed their demand for the scrapping of the Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) they need to secure to be allowed to exit the Philippines.

They also wanted a stop to the mandatory payment of PhilHealth, Social Security System (SSS) and Philippine Home Mortgage Corporation (Pag-Ibig) contributions.

The OFWs said these payments, increased during the Rodrigo Duterte administration, must only be voluntary

They also demanded the continuation of Covid assistance payments to OFWs sick of the virus, as well as prompt assistance by consulate and Philippine Overseas Labor Office personnel to Filipinos in distress abroad.

Migrante-HK said Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) deputy administrator Honey Quino has already committed to continuing assistance to OFWs sick with Covid as well as to Filipinos in distress.

DMW undersecretary Patricia Yvonne Caunan announced the review of the OEC, the group added.

But the OFWs said they need to hear from Ople herself, especially the assurance of receiving help from the OWWA for both members and non-members.

“It is not enough that additional payments (to PhilHealth, SSS and Pag-Ibig) are suspended. We want the total scrapping of the OEC,” the group said. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)

OFW contract substitutions rising in UAE; migrant groups accusing PH government of ‘slacking’

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A migrant’s organization accused the Philippine government of negligence in protecting the rights of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), reporting rising cases of contract substitutions and other labor rights violations.

Migrante Middle East said it is disturbed that Philippine-based manpower services and UAE employers are increasingly substituting and revising master contracts of Filipino cleaning services workers without their consent.

 “It is dismaying to know this is happening despite the numerous, cumbersome requirements most OFWs have to go through and abide by which, the state claims, are supposed to protect Filipino migrant workers,” the group added.

Migrante Middle East said it had noticed a rise in contract substitution complaints since early 2020.

Majority of OFWs victimized by the violation are directly hired in the Philippines through Philippine Overseas Employment Administration job orders, it said.

“In all cases, the cleaners suffered multiple labor malpractices. Grueling extended working hours without overtime pay and proper rest, unjust salary deductions, and other unlawful company policies superseding the local labor law were imposed upon the employees,” the group reported.

“In addition, the service workers endured verbal and mental abuse and sexual harassment. Needless to say, these conditions had adverse effects on the employees, both physically and mentally. Sadly, some have even resulted in death,” it added.

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said there are an estimated 1.83 million OFWs worldwide in 2021, 60.2 percent of whom are women.

The UAE is host to 14.4 percent of OFWs, the second biggest country of work for migrant Filipino workers worldwide after Saudi Araibia.

The PSA added that 40 percent of jobs given to OFWs are “elementary occupations” that involve, among others, cleaning and basic maintenance in households and hotels.

Migrante Middle East said it calls upon the Philippine government and its local representatives to take a hard look at the plight of the OFWs in the cleaning sector and take immediate action against the ​​“unscrupulous agencies” involved. 

“Holding guilty parties liable is only but a part. We also challenge the respective Philippine authorities to devise preventive and long-lasting solutions to ensure and uphold the rights and welfare of Filipino migrant workers,” the group said. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)

Migrante International to gov’t: Help OFWs sent home by Kuwait

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Migrante International (MI) called on the Philippine government to provide immediate assistance to overseas workers sent back by Kuwait resulting from the ongoing dispute between the two governments.

MI reported that many overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) have been offloaded from their flights while others have been repatriated since the emirate halted the issuance of entry and labor visas to Filipinos effective May 10.

Since May 12, 78 OFWs have been repatriated and a reported 130 OFWs are stranded daily, MI said.

“Not allowed to enter Kuwait, they will not earn the salary that they would have sent to their families or used to start paying their debts,” MI said in a statement.

“We condemn the Kuwait government for sending back OFWs because it sees the Philippine government as abetting violations of labor agreements by providing shelters to distressed OFWs,” it added.

Kuwait’s First Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Talaal Al Khalid issued a circular May 10 announcing the ban and accusing the Philippines of failing to comply with a labor agreement between the two countries.

The 2020 agreement was signed after an OFW deployment ban to Kuwait was issued by the Philippine government after the deaths of domestic workers Joanna Demafelis and Jeanelyn Villaverde in 2018 and 2019, respectively.

The agreement commits both governments to ensuring the protection and welfare of Filipino workers.

According to media reports, Kuwait specifically complains of the existence of Philippine government-maintained shelters for “runaway OFWs.”

Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Eduardo de Vega told reporters that if the shelters are the issue, “…[T]hen it would be non-negotiable for the Philippines because we will not close down our shelters there since it is required under our law.”

MI said it agrees with the Philippine government in maintaining the shelters and should in fact expand the program.

“Domestic workers, who comprise a big chunk of OFWs in Kuwait, are most vulnerable to labor exploitation and sexual abuse and violence, especially in foreign lands,” MI said.

The group added that the Philippine government must also oppose the emirate’s kafala system that makes employers’ control over OFWs nearly absolute in order to uphold workers’ and migrants’ rights. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)

OWWA chief’s rant against OFWs earns ire

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Migrante International (MI) castigated Overseas Workers Welfare Administration executive director Arnell Ignacio on his statement against Filipinos who are in trouble abroad.

Reacting to Ignacio telling “stubborn” Filipinos to just stay in the country to spare fellow overseas workers from shame, MI said such rants only succeed in covering up the fact that the Philippine government is deficient in orienting them before they travel abroad.

 “This will only make it appear that government officials are doing something when they are actually not doing anything on the issue,” MI chairperson Joanna Concepcion said.

‘Magbo-boyfriend, magpapa-buntis’

In a video, Ignacio did not hold back on his criticisms of Filipinos he accused of being abusive of their rights and freedoms while abroad.

The OWWA chief was apparently reacting to reports of five OFWs arrested in Sharja for pretending on Tiktok to be prostituted persons who freshly arrived in the United Arab Emirates.

“Sa mga OFWs namin natin na lagi na lang isinasangkot ‘yung sarili nila sa mga kalokohan, nananadyang gawin, basta gusto nila gagawin nila, at alam nila na mapapahamak sila…utang na loob naman!” Ignacio exclaimed.

(To our OFWs who always involved themselves in shenanigans, who do it willingly—as long as they want it, they do it even though they know they will get themselves into trouble—for goodness’ sake!)

Ignacio said they are already at a loss on how to remind OFWs more and how his agency can serve them more but Filipinos in trouble abroad have the penchant of telling lies and not being honest with their shenanigans.

“Hindi ho ba tayo nahihiya sa pinag-gagawa natin? Magbo-boyfriend, magpapa-buntis. Kahit alam niyong bawal. Pagkatapos, kung ano-ano ang sasabihin. Kayo ho ang mas matapang e!” Ignacio said.

(Aren’t we ashamed? You go into relationships, get pregnant, even though you know it is prohibited. Then you tell lies. And you have the gall to be aggressive.)

Ignacio added that while OFWs are regarded as new heroes, this does not give them the license to do as they please.

“For goodness’ sake, if that is all you intend to do, do not fly abroad anymore!” he said.

Misplaced

But MI said Ignacio’s rant was misplaced, reminding the OWW chief that informing OFWs about migrant-receiving countries is most important in protecting their interests and welfare.

“What Ignacio and OWWA need to do is improve the agency’s Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) and Post-Arrival Orientation Seminar (PAOS) to educate prospective and repeat OFWs about laws and customs of migrant receiving countries,” Concepcion said.

“According to our members, these seminars often educate OFWs about being submissive to their employers, but about not the laws and customs of migrant-receiving countries,” she added.

Despite the government’s weaknesses in informing and educating OFWs, most OFWs abide by the law and customs of migrant-receiving countries, the migrant leader said.

She also added that most OFWs who report their problems to the media have real grievances, important points that Ignacio failed to mention in his anger at erring OFWs.

Concepcion revealed that OFWs also see many migrant-receiving countries as overly-harsh to migrants.

“While the government should educate OFWs, it should also learn from OFWs,” Concepcion said. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)

Filipinos detained in UAE over TikTok video in good condition, says consul-general

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Mifrante International calls on PH government to review pre-departure orientation for OFWs

by Angel Tesorero / Khaleej Times

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — The five Filipino expatriates who were detained by Sharjah Police after reportedly posting an allegedly indecent video on TikTok are in good condition, Philippine Consul-General Renato Dueñas Jr to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) said.

Dueñas said: “The Philippine Consulate’s ATN (Assistance to Nationals) representative and its legal counsel visited the five detained Filipinos in Sharjah on Wednesday to ascertain their condition. They were given legal advice in preparation for their upcoming hearing.”

“The consulate, through DFA-OUMWA’s (Department of Foreign Affairs – Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs) ATN Fund, will provide them with welfare assistance for their basic needs while in detention,” he added.

The five Filipinos were arrested after reportedly uploading an “indecent video” on TikTok back in March. They thought it was “just for fun” and had no idea it could get them into legal trouble. “They were mistaken for prostitutes,” said a sibling of one of those arrested.

The Philippine Consulate has reiterated its call for Filipinos in the UAE “to respect the customs of the host government and be mindful of content that they post on social media.”

Under Article 17 of the UAE Cybercrime Law, online posting of pornographic materials, gambling, or any activity that may afflict public morals is punishable by imprisonment and a fine of up to Dh500,000. The offender may also face deportation after the service of sentence.

Proper deployment orientation

A legal expert and migrant workers advocacy group Migrante-Middle East are calling for the Philippine government to review and update their Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) given to Filipinos who seek employment abroad.

Barney Almazar, who is a member of the Philippine Bar and holder of a UAE legal consultancy license said the “incident involving five Filipinos could have been easily avoided had they familiarized themselves with the UAE laws.

“The violators have no intent to break the law, their only mistake was to assume that the ways they were accustomed to way back home have no criminal implications in the UAE,” he said.

Almazar explained: “PDOS is a mandatory one-day seminar for Filipinos who are going to work abroad. Seminars are region or country specific to address the peculiarity of certain job sites. Those being deployed to UAE undergo the Middle East module which, unfortunately lacks discussion on the practical day-to-day application of Sharia law.”

“PDOS implementation needs to be re-examined. Since its implementation in 1993, it has not evolved with the needs of the time. When participants enter the seminar room, their only focus was to finish the requirement and get their certification to be able to exit the country. The modules are outdated,” he added.

Know the law

Almazar underscored: “We have to properly equip our migrant workers with practical and useful legal knowledge in the UAE. Under Article 29 of the UAE Civil Code, ignorance of the law excuses no one from compliance therewith. It is the responsibility of each expatriate to know the rules and local customs in the host country, especially that their continued stay in the UAE is not a right but a privilege which can be revoked should they violate the law.”

Migrante-Middle East added labor-sending countries like the Philippines “must educate their workers on the laws of the host country, including Cybercrime law, especially that expatriates are heavy users of social media.”

The group also called for additional funds and more protection for OFWs (overseas Filipino workers).

= = = =

This April 13, 2023 report is original to Khaleej Times, hereby republished with permission from the reporter.

Arbitrary rules show immigration bureau is ‘disrespectful, rude’—Migrante International

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A migrant group condemned what it called arbitrary restrictions imposed by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) against Filipino travelers its agents suspect may be victims of human trafficking.

Following reports of several passengers barred from travelling in March alone, Migrante International (MI) said the BI may have violated the right to travel of migrant workers and other overseas bound Filipinos.

Mi cited the case of Abu Dhabi-based expatriate Natalie dumlao who was not allowed to board her flight to Hong Kong last March 20 despite presenting all the required travel documents.

The immigration officer told her to cancel her United Arab Emirate residence visa first before being allowed to proceed with her pleasure trip with her partner.

MI said there is no such rule in the books.

The group also cited a Dubai-bound Filipino off to visit his sister who was offloaded twice last month despite carrying travel documents.

An Israel-bound Filipina was also asked unreasonable questions and asked to present a graduation yearbook at the immigration counter in the same time period.

Social media lit up with more stories of travelers prevented from boarding their flights after Dumlao’s complaint became viral.

“These incidents clearly show the arbitrary imposition of flight restrictions on OFWs who are about to depart the country. These restrictions violate OFWs’ right to travel and work abroad and are openings for bribery and corruption. This is no way to treat the country’s supposed new heroes, the lifesavers of the country’s economy,” MI said.

The group added that the arbitrary restrictions show that the BI and the Marcos government are not serious in fighting human trafficking.

“On the contrary, these actions show that they are a failure in this area,” MI said.

MI said that if the goal is to combat or stop human trafficking, the BI and the Marcos government can increase their information and education efforts against human trafficking among prospective migrants and the public.

“They can look for and punish human traffickers, and not the suspected victims,” MI said.

Disrespectful immigration officers

While saying many are doing their job well, MI also accused the immigration bureau of having some of the most disrespectful, if not outright rude, immigration officers in the world.

“We blame this on the orientation given to them; they should not be playing their present role in fighting human trafficking,” MI said.

The BI has since apologized to the victims.

MI added that if the Marcos government is really serious in fighting human trafficking, it should create decent jobs in the Philippines.

“So far, it is an utter failure in this respect, as unemployment continues to increase and no palpable efforts are seen with regard to job generation efforts that are led by the government,” it said.

The group reiterated its call for the junking of exorbitant and money-making restrictions on OFWs to travel, such as the Overseas Employment Certificate, which is just an added burden, another state exaction on OFWs. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)

HK OFWs protest mandatory fee increases

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Migrant workers held a protest action in front of the Philippine Consulate in Hong Kong on Wednesday against additional fees in government health, insurance and housing program fees.

The United Filipinos in Hong Kong (UNIFIL-MIGRANTE-HK) led the picket protest against the new and mandatory fee increases it said it said are “undemocratic, unscrupulous, and unnecessary.”

They were joined by members of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan-HK, Gabriela and Filipino Migrant Workers Union.

In a statement, UNIFIL said the Consulate General prohibited them from entering the Consular office to properly register their opposition to the new impositions but failed to stop them from conducting a rally in front of the building.

UNIFIL chairperson Dolores Balladares Pelaez said the event on Wednesday was the first in a series of protest actions around the world as collection of fee hikes started.

“Imposing fees on a population who can ill afford it is undemocratic. Overseas Filipinos budget their salary to the last cent. Imposing more fees will mean a reduction in their family’s quality of living,” Balladares-Pelaez said.

“For OFWs, this is heart-breaking as we work overseas so that our families can be given a good life,” she added.

READ: OFWs oppose new order on mandatory Pag-IBIG membership

The outgoing Rodrigo Duterte government ordered a monthly Philippine Health Insurance premium increase of Php1,200 as well as an expanded mandatory insurance premium of Php8,000 per contract for OFWs.

A recent joint advisory between the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration and the Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG) also made securing Pag-IBIG Membership Identification Numbers and paying the monthly contribution of Php2,400  through the POEA’s system mandatory for migrant workers.

Balladares-Pelaez said they suspect that the new increases will again be misspent following the Php15 billion controversy involving PhilHealth as well as dubious purchases made by the Social Security System.

“With no moves to ensure that our hard-earned money will be taken care of, can anyone blame us for refusing to cough up these fees? If you multiply that by millions (of OFWs), just imagine how much that will amount to,” she added.

‘We demand that the mandatory fees be revoked. These should not be pre-requisites for getting an overseas employment certificate (before deployment),” Balladares-Pelaez said. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)

OFWs oppose new order on mandatory Pag-IBIG membership

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Overseas Filipinos opposed the new resolution making membership to the government’s housing fund mandatory, calling the measure “extortion”.

Migrante International (MI) said overseas Filipino workers (OFW) have always been the target of government money-making schemes and the new order by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) and the Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG) is another.

In a joint resolution this month, the two government agencies said all OFWs must be Pag-IBIG members in order to secure overseas employment certificates (OEC), a prerequisite to applying for jobs abroad.

The government said the new measure is meant to ensure that OFWs will receive uninterrupted benefits from Pag-IBIG, such as loan packages and other programs.

The order is an addition to the earlier requisite for OFWs to secure exit clearance from the POEA as well as POEA and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration memberships, travel insurance, Social Security System and PhilHealth memberships before being allowed to fly abroad.

MI also revealed that the government has imposed additional medical, training and other processing requirements during the COVID pandemic.

MI said the order, issued only a month away from the May 2022 national and local elections, is another desperate device by the Rodrigo Duterte government to milk more funds from the OFWs.

“This is just another mechanism of the Labor Export Program (LEP). The mandatory Pag-IBIG membership only aggravates the current critical condition of Filipinos who are forced to seek overseas employment in order for their families to survive the severe economic crisis brought about by the endless hike in oil price and basic commodities,” MI said.

Jhoanna Concepcion, MI chairperson, said that without an OEC, OFWs are prevented from leaving the country even if they are already in possession of all the necessary working and travel requirements set by their respective host countries.

“Our own government controls our movement. Now, the government is using the OEC to extract money from our hard-working OFWs. Is this the kind of treatment our OFWs deserved?” Concepcion asked.

MI said it plans on mobilizing its chapters in three major global regions and two major countries in North America to protest against this recent mandatory fee and at the same time will revive its call for the abolition of the OEC.

“We also challenge our presidentiables to speak against this new mandatory fee and, if they are elected, we hope they will provide us with relief and not add more burden to our sufferings,” she said. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)

Migrante Int’l warns of massive voters’ disenfranchisement among OFWs

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Group blames Comelec’s late preparations

Overseas absentee voting may be far lower in this year’s elections, a migrant group warned, saying “concerning” late preparations by the poll body are to be blamed if it happens.

In a press conference on Tuesday, Migrante International (MI) said many overseas Filipinos may be disenfranchised or, at least, will not be given enough time to choose the best candidates for national elective posts.

MI said these are “due to the utter disregard of government officials in foreign posts on the significance of this year’s OAV presidential elections following the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Overseas absentee voting (OAV) starts on April 10 where overseas registered Filipino voters may vote for the country’s next president, vice president and 12 senators.

Migrant Filipino workers in Hong Kong line up outside the polling precinct in the 2016 elections. (Photo by Bayan Muna Hong Kong)

MI pointed out that in Hong Kong, the Consulate General in the Chinese territory held no meetings or consultations on the conduct of the elections until a Filipino community leader wrote to raise their concerns regarding the OAV.

“As of this writing, inspections of the ballot, voting machines and the place where the elections are still to be held,” MI said.

MI said its chapters in other countries report problems on polling places accessibility, poor mailing system of ballots, payment of postage stamps, as well as late delivery of and inspections of voting counting machines and other election paraphernalia.

DFA infographic

Low AOV turnout remains a problem despite a substantial increase in registered overseas voters, MI added.

There are 1.8 milliion registered overseas voters this year, the Department of Foreign Affairs reported.

The Commission on Elections Office of Overseas Voting said with Middle East & Africa leads with 786,997 registered overseas voters, Asia Pacific with 450,282; North & Latin America with 306,445; and Europe with 153,491.

In the 2016 presidential elections however, only 31.45 % cast their votes, a number that substantially decreased at 18.47% in the 2019 mid-term elections.

MI said their group continues to hold hope this year’s polls would elect new leaders who will address the root causes of forced migration in order for Filipinos to stop opting to work overseas. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)

Covid-positive OFWs in HK forced to stay in parks in cold weather

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A number of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who have tested positive of Covid-19 are being terminated, abandoned and forced to live in parks in cold weather in Hong Kong.

Migrante International (MI) and the United Filipinos in Hong Kong (Unifil-HK) reported that several employers of Filipino domestic workers in the territory have refused to take back their employees who are sick with Covid-19.

“[They have] no immediate place to go as they were advised to stay home by the HK health authorities since they were found to be asymptomatic,” MI said in a statement.

Unifil and Migrante-HK secretary general Eman Villanueva said in a radio interview Friday that they received reports of OFWs staying in parks and sleeping on cold concrete floors surrounded only by their luggage.

“Some non-government organizations are trying to find temporary shelter for the sick OFWs but it should really be the Philippine government’s concern,” Villanueva told DZRH.

He added that not all Covid-positive migrant workers have access to NGOs or others for assistance.

5th Covid wave in HK

The HK-based Mission for Migrant Workers said it has assisted no less than 10 domestic workers who were “preliminary positive” (with Covid-19) and were left in the cold the past 2-3 days.

The humanitarian organization said the situation is “a developing crisis due to the fifth wave of COVID-19 pandemic” in the territory.

The mission added that HK hospitals and quarantine facilities are overwhelmed with Covid-19 patients, migrant domestic workers who have mild symptoms were told to isolate at home.

“With no assistance available, these workers are abandoned on the street overnight, stranded at hospitals, lacking food and supplies. Some are not eligible for public healthcare due to contract termination,” the mission revealed.

[The Mission for Migrant Workers has launched this appeal to Help Abandoned Domestic Workers in Hong Kong.]

PH gov’t abandonment

MI and Unifil-HK added the situation of terminated and sick OFWs is made worse by the apparent abandonment by the Philippine government.

“Clearly, government neglect is the trademark of the Philippine government whose one of the main sources of revenues is the mandatory collections of fees imposed by the PH government under its Labor Export Program,” MI said.

The groups demanded that the Manila government through its Consulate General in the territory to make immediate arrangements with the HK administrators to set up a free isolation center for COVID-19 positive Filipino migrant workers.

“We also demand the PH government for an immediate cash relief to OFWs who were terminated and affected by the pandemic in Hong Kong and other countries,” the group added.

The PH Consulate General in HK has yet to reply to requests for comment. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)