Institutionalized goverrnment exactions imposed on OFWs by BS administration

Posted by Belarmino Dabaslos Saguing
Rome, Italy October 30,2014

Rome migrant workers protesting against state exactions (photo courtesy of UMANGAT-MIGRANTE)

Since Pres. BS Aquino assumed post, he had legalized “kotong” and state exactions on OFWs, particularly through the implementation of Admnistrative Order 31.

AO 31 practically institutionalized more state exactions and fees imposed on OFWs when existing onerouse fees remain under protest by the sector since BS Aquino took office.

A study by Migrante International estimating that since 2010 the BS Aquino government has been collecting an average of at least P26,267 from every OFW processed by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA). This amount is higher than the average P18,000 the government collected before 2010.

If 4,884 OFWs leave daily to work abroad, the government earns an average of P146.5 million a day from processing fees and other costs shouldered by OFWs

Aside from the hike in costs of requirements for the OEC, other fees and tax schemes being imposed on OFWs include the affidavit of support (AOS) in UAE, Macau and some parts of Europe and the discriminatory P75 Comelec certificate of registration, other onerous fees specifically charged to seafarers and entertainers, and House Bill 3576 dubbed as the “forced remittance bill”.

The further institutionalization of state exactions on OFWs when welfare services for OFWs in distress have gone from bad to worse. “Unresolved cases of OFWs continue to pile up at the POEA, National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).”

State exactions have caused OFWs and their families to become debt-ridden, contributing greatly to the widespread landlessness and poverty of many. It is not unheard of for peasant families to mortgage or sell their small parcels of land or to submit their children to unpaid labor just to be able to pay debtors or produce the sum needed to pay for exorbitant pre-departure and placement fees.

OFWs are plagued with an assortment of issues and problems throughout the entire migration cycle yet the BS Aquino government has barely done any decisive action to support and protect its migrant workers and their families. The BS Aquino government’s ability to uphold Filipino migrants’ rights and promote their welfare has lagged behind its apparent success in pursuing a more aggressive labor export policy.

The continuous onslaught of state exactions on OFWs, combined with the BS Aquino government’s lack of welfare service and assistance to OFWs in distress and the overall economic conditions of OFWs and their families amid widespread corruption and criminal neglect of the government are enough reasons for Filipino migrants to call for BS Aquino to step down from office

For this reason, the Italy based OFWs continue to wage protests against these state exactions termed by some as extortion.

Press Release | Undocumented migrants told to assert rights in forum in Amsterdam; human rights advocates slam “mos maiorum”

Posted by Belarmino Dabalos Saguing

Rome, Italy October 17 1014

PRESS RELEASE
15 October 2014

“There should be no panic. Especially in Amsterdam, there is no policy to hunt down illegals. That is the experience I have, and that is, I hope, the experience I will have for the next two weeks. If the police stops you they must have a reason and explain to you the reason why they should be asking for your identification.”

Thus explained Dutch immigration lawyer Martijn Strooij of the Hamerslag and van Haren Advocaten to several dozens of Filipino, Indonesia and African migrants and Dutch migrant rights advocates during an information afternoon held Oct. 12 at the Old Catholic Church in Amsterdam, on the planned Joint Police Operation to be conducted by the EU Council fromOctober 13-26, reportedly to gather intelligence information and apprehend undocumented migrants in several EU countries.

The EU-wide police operation called “mos maiorum” (ancestral custom) was contained in a memorandum issued by the EU Council last July, purportedly to crackdown on human and drug traffickers in countries in the EU, but targets to apprehend undocumented migrants in order to gather intelligence information to apprehend the traffickers.

Organizations of migrants and refugees, and human rights advocates have voiced deep concern over the intentions and conduct of the joint police operation, and have argued that this action is actually a part of the EU Return Directive which seeks to unjustly deport undocumented people from the EU and criminalize the undocumented.

During the information afternoon at the OCC, Mercedes Milleti of the Brussels-based Platform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants (PICUM) came all the way from Belgium to express deep concern over the planned crackdown on the undocumented and voice solidarity with migrants and refugees. She said the best way for undocumented people to protect themselves is to assert their rights and organize themselves.

Filia den Hollander, a Dutch artist and a strong advocate of a support group for women without a residence permit (SVZV- Steungroep voor Vrouwen zonder Verblijfsvergunning) also expressed concern on the impending police operation that would target undocumented persons. She offered her organization's modest support in terms of informing other concerned individuals including artists in the campaign to respect the rights of the undocumented and to stop the crackdown on undocumented persons.

Grace Punongbayan of Migrante Europe and the Filipino Parish in Amsterdam, explained that the “mos maiorum” is a continuation of similar EU-wide police operations launched earlier in several EU countries that have targetted undocumented migrants and refugees. She said the operation is actually part of the bigger framework of criminalizing undocumented migrants and refugees, which she said goes against many important international conventions on human rights and respect for an individual's civil, political, social and economic rights.

Apart from explaining to the migrants present at the forum of their legal rights, Martijn Strooij also urged them to assert these rights even in a situation when they have already been arrested and taken into custody. He said his law office is always ready to assist migrants and refugees who might be affected by the police operation, and strongly reiterated an individual's right to have a lawyer before the police could extract information from them.

A letter sent to the European Parliament from the European United Left/Nordic Green Left (GUE/NGL), a progressive political group in the European Parliament, was read which called for the cancellation of the “mos maiorum”.

Also, a letter of concern from Bishop Dirk Jan, Bishop of Haarlem of the Old Catholic Church was read during the event. Bishop Jan said: It is with great distress that the Old-Catholic Church of the Netherlands heard of the upcoming Joint Police Operation ‘Mos Maiorum’, that will take place next week. While recognizing the huge problems involved with the international trafficking of human beings and drugs, we do not see how this police operation will catch those who are really guilty of these crimes. On the contrary, we notice the insecurity and great fear especially among the undocumented people, who are likely to be criminalized and arrested without any other reason than their so-called illegal status.

“We as the Church of Christ therefore protest strongly against all violence against innocent  people, who come to our part of the world to try to make a living overhere. We fear that this  police action makes these people more vulnerable than they already are. In prayer and action  we do our best to give shelter and protection to those who are in fear and danger,” the Bishop of Haarlem stressed.

The Bishop of Haarlem also offered the OCC as a “zone of safety and peace” for undocumented migrants.

At the conclusion of the forum, participants agreed to come together again on November 16, at the OCC in Amsterdam to share experiences during the two-week police operation in Amsterdam, and plan for a more vigorous campaign to uphold the rights of the undocumented and their regularization.

The information afternoon was organized jointly by the Filipino Parish in Amsterdam, Stichting Migrante Europe, and Migrante-Netherlands.#

Reference:

Grace Punongbayan
office@migrante.eu

Tribute to Hacienda Luisita martyrs, reminder that the struggle against hunger, landlessness and injustice continues

Posted by Belarmino Dabalos Saguing

Rome, Italy October 16,2014

Source Verification:

Gi Estrada – Media Officer

+639166114181

Tribute to Hacienda Luisita martyrs, reminder that the struggle against hunger,

landlessness and injustice continues

An ecumenical service to pay tribute to victims of extra-judicial killings in Hacienda Luisita, organized by the Alyansa ng Manggagawang Bukid sa Asyenda Luisita (AMBALA), Unyon ng Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (UMA), Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI) was held today in Brgy. Mapalacsiao, Tarlac City, coinciding with the observance of World Hunger Day and the start of Philippine Peasant Week.

Among those given tribute were IFI Bishop Ramento who was killed on October 3, 2006, Bayan-Muna Central Luzon secretary general Florante Collantes, killed October 15, 2005, Central Azucarera de Tarlac Labor Union president and Mapalacsiao brgy. chairman Ricardo Ramos, killed October 25, 2006, and local AMBALA leader Dennis de la Cruz who was killed in November 1, 2013.

“This tribute is a stark reminder that widespread hunger persists among those who toil the land but have no land of their own and that there is gnawing hunger as well for justice for the death of those who valiantly fought for genuine land reform,” said Ranmil Echanis, secretary general of UMA.

The event also inaugurated a marker for Ricardo Ramos, honoring the late village chief’s “principled leadership and militant advocacy for genuine unionism in the sugar workers’ struggle and for genuine land reform.” After the ecumenical service, the participants joined a march around Brgy. Mapalacsiao which stopped at the exact spot where Ramos was shot by a sniper eight years ago. Witnesses at that time identified Private First Class Roderick U. Dela Cruz and another soldier, Romeo Castillo Jr. as perpetrators of the crime. The case against Castillo was immediately dismissed while de la Cruz was absolved of the killing on December 14, 2013 after spending 4 years in jail.

“Impunity still persists  in the same way that hunger remains widespread because those who produce food in the Philippines still wallow in poverty including the agricultural workers in Hacienda Luisita,” said Florida Sibayan, chairperson of AMBALA.

According to the National Statistics Office, “Farmers and fishermen are among the least paid workers in the Philippine economy with an average daily wage and salary of P156.8 and P178.43, respectively in 2011”.

“Most farmers don’t own the land they till while agricultural workers don’t get to work daily and usually have work for only six to nine months and are jobless during so-called seasons or tiempos muertos.  The liberalization of the agricultural sector adds to the woes of the farmers as imported agricultural products are sold more cheaply than what they produce,” Echanis said.

“Those who organize themselves, like the members of AMBALA and their supporters, to expose and oppose the prevailing exploitation of peasants are being labeled as trouble makers and everyday face the threat of being imprisoned or even executed,” Echanis added.

“”The tribute to the martyrs of Hacienda Luisita should inspire the ranks of the Luisita farmers to persevere in the struggle against the aggressive and violent moves of the Cojunagco-Aquinos and the Aquino administration to continue depriving the farm workers of land and justice. The best way to honor the bravery of our fallen comrades is to continue the struggle for genuine agrarian reform and national industrialization,” Sibayan said. 

Among those who participated in the activity included foreign delegates for an International Fact Finding Mission (IFFM), members of various trade unions, teachers and students organizations, religious groups, and human rights and peasant advocates.

Advisory | Italy Passes New Law Against Illegal Migration

Posted by Belarmino Dabalos Saguing
Rome, Italy October 16 2014

From Announcements - 8 June 2011 02:03 PM

http://www.owwa.gov.ph:8080/wcmqs/announcements/

All Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) are advised of the passage of the Italian Parliament

of Law No. 92 (Law 92) titled Security Package’, and sub-titled ‘Measures for a More Secure Life for the Citizens’.

The new law aims to stem illegal migration by making it more difficult for foreigners to enter

Italy if they do not have the proper documentation. Law 92, which effectively makes illegal

entry a crime in Italian jurisdiction, has the following provisions/features, among others:

a) Imprisonment from six (6) months to four (4) years and the obligatory arrest of the illegal

entrant who will be subjected to a quick trial;

b) Phenomenon of the so-called ‘marriage for convenience’ with the sole purpose of

acquiring Italian citizenship;

c) Establishment of a national data bank to ascertain paternity of a person and blood

relationships of foreign citizens;

d) Easier expulsions/deportations;

e) Arrest and confiscation of properties transferred through illegal titles to foreigners whoare irregularly staying in Italian jurisdiction; and

f) Extension up to eighteen (18) months the period of stay in centers of temporary welcome.

As Italy is a favored destination for OFWs, the circulation of this latest information hopes to 

prevent or minimize problems arising from illegal migration.

(source : http://www.owwa.gov.ph:8080/wcmqs/announcements)

Press Release | Poorest congressman as victim, confirms abuses in Hacienda Luisita

Date:	Wed, 15 Oct 2014 11:38:04 +0800

Posted by Belarmino Dabalos Saguing

Rome, Italy October 15, 2014

Anakpawis Rep. Fernando Hicap inside Tarlac police headquarters.  (September 2013)

PRESS RELEASE
October 15, 2014
Reference: Anakpawis Partylist Rep. Fernando Hicap, 0920-227-1620



The Philippine’s poorest member of the House of Representatives, Anakpawis Rep. Fernando Hicap claimed he himself became an actual victim of abuse inside Hacienda Luisita ironically while attending an investigative mission on September 17 of last year to look into reported cases of harassment against farm workers related to the alleged aggressive land grabbing efforts of the Tarlac Dev’t Corp (Tadeco) and the “raffle-style” land distribution of the Dept. of Agrarian Reform (DAR).

“Mapapaisip ka talaga kung ano ang ibig sabihin ng mga opisyales ng Malacanang na patunayan ang mga pang-aabuso sa Hacienda Luisita na ako na nga na congressman ay hinuli pa ng mga lokal na pulis,” [It is really puzzling what Malacanang officials meant by proving it (abuses in Hacienda Luisita) when I, myself, a member of congress was even arrested by the local police.] Hicap said.

Hicap was arrested, together with 10 others (including his legislative staff and aide and an Australian land reform advocate nun), when they were gathering data about how DAR officials implemented the cloa distribution and the alleged land grabbing by Tadeco, a firm controlled by the Cojuangco-Aquino family.  The activity was led by the Alyansa ng Manggagawang Bukid sa Asyenda Luisita (Ambala), Unyon ng Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (Uma) and other farmers organization.

“Kahit nagpakilala na ako ay isang congressman, hindi nila ako iginalang at hinuli pa rin nila ako, kasunod nito, nagpahayag silang inimbitahan daw ako for questioning pero hindi iyon imbitasyon dahil pwersahan nila akong dinala sa presinto, naka-dalawang araw rin ako sa loob, ” [Though I introduced myself as a congressman, they (police) showed disrespect and still arrested me, then they issued a statement that I was invited for questioning though I was forced to come with them, I stayed inside for 2 days.]  Hicap added.

Last October 10, complaints of attempted murder, arson, child abuse, physical injuries, illegal arrest and arbitrary detention, theft, robbery and malicious mischief were prepared and filed for Hacienda Luisita farmers led by Ambala, by a group of lawyers from the Sentro para sa Tunay na Repormang Agraryo (Sentra), National Union of People’s Lawyers (Nupl), Public Interest Law Center (Pilc) and the Pro-Labor Legal Assistance Center (Place) at the Dept. of Justice (DOJ).  Among the respondents are the president Aquino’s uncle Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr, sister Maria Elena “Ballsy” Aquino-Cruz and other board members of the Tadeco, former LTO chief Virginia Torres, Tarlac provincial police director Alex Sintin and former Tarlac city police chief Bayani Razalan.

The Anakpawis representative also hinted that president Benigno Simeon “Noynoy” Aquino III is actually using the government institution and resources to defend his family’s interest in Hacienda Luisita as established by the speedy reaction by his Communications secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr.

“Mukhang buking si pangulong Aquino na ginagamit niya ang pwesto para ipagtanggol niya ang pribadong interes ng kanyang pamilya sa Hacienda Luisita.  Ang banggit ni secretary Coloma ay sundin ang due process of law, na kaya nga nag-file sa DOJ ang mga manggagawang bukid, at tandaan natin na ito, katulad ng DAR ay nasa kontrol na naman ni pangulong Aquino,” [President Aquino somehow confirmed that he is utilizing government institutions and resources to defend his family’s private interests in Hacienda Luisita.  As to secretary Coloma’s pronouncement to follow the due process of law, that is exactly why the farm workers filed complaints at the DOJ, but we should note that, similar to DAR, DOJ is under the control of president Aquino]  Hicap explained.

“Kaya hinihikayat naming si justice secretary Leila De Lima na aksyunan na mga kasong ito at sana ay maging independent siya, para kay secretary Coloma, mapapatunayan din ito ng mga manggagawang bukid at kasama akong magpapatunay sa mga ito,” [Hence, we urge justice secretary Leila De Lima to act on these cases and we hope that she would be impartial, and for secretary Coloma , the farm workers would be able to prove them (complaints), and I would stand as witness for them.] Hicap said. ###

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Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura

(Agricultural Workers Union)

Philippines

Follow UMA Pilipinas on Twitter

Press Statement | Jennifer Laude hate crime Murder most foul, pathetic mendicancy like no other

Posted by Belarmino Dabalos Saguing
Rome, Ityaly October 15, 2015



Press Statement15 October 2014

  

We cannot perhaps add anything more to the universal condemnation and loud calls for justice for the grisly murder of Jennifer Laude. There is no legal nor moral justification for an apparent hate crime.

Yet the BS Aquino government is failing us again. It is not standing up for its own people despite the horrible beastly murder.  It is simply pathetic to grovel for custody of a suspect just to routinely bring him to justice.

You bellow grandiosely that you have legal jurisdiction over a suspect yet you peep with a whimper over a simple exercise of custody?

And the US is flouting all laws of decency and humanity for its own military interests. Shielding US Marine Private First Class Joseph Scott Pemberton is unmitigated callousness.

What if it were an American transgender and a Filipino soldier? The latter would be instantly renditioned by the US and thrown overboard from the docks.

Pfc Pemberton, USMC, uspected murderer of Jenny Laude

The nexus with scandalously one-sided "agreements" that institutionalize and legalize what are essentially master-slave arrangements like the so-called Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) and the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) on the one hand, and transgressions against our sovereignty, our laws, our environment, our dignity as a people and as human beings is patent as it is overt, on the other hand.

From Subic to Tubbataha, from Smith to Pemberton: it is one straight path to subservience and docility sanctified by legal gobbledygook and discombobulated by legal hermeneutics.

We told you so. These and other outrageous things are bound to happen. And will happen again.

But we will tell you again and again and again and again. Until lowly life forms camouflaged in elegant uniforms are brought to us for reckoning. Until you respect us as a people. Until you treat us as human beings. #

Reference:

Edre U. Olalia
NUPL Secretary General
+639175113373

POPE FRANCIS REPRIMANDS PHILIPPINE MAYOR

Posted by Belarmino Dabalos Saguing
Rome, italy october 13, 2014

OCTOBER 5, 2014 ADOBOCHRON 112 COMMENTS

http://adobochronicles.com/2014/10/05/pope-francis-reprimands-philippine-mayor/

Mayor Petilla of Palo, Leyte in the Philippines (photo: ABS-CBN News)

Vatican City, Italy (The Adobo Chronicles) – Pope Francis sent a strongly-worded letter to the mayor of Palo, Leyte in the Philippines, reprimanding her for attempting to hide the truth from the leader of the Roman Catholic Church.  The pope is scheduled to visit the Philippines next January and wants to meet with the victims devastated and rendered homeless by last year’s typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda).

Mayor Remedios Petilla of Palo wants to transfer 250 families living in bunk houses in Barangay Candahug to another place five kilometers away so they will not be very visible when Pope Francis visits the town in January. The families, who had been staying in the bunk houses in Candahug after their houses were destroyed by the supertyphoon on Nov. 8, 2013, would be transferred to other bunk houses in Barangay Tacuranga or permanent relocation sites ahead of the papal visit.

The transfer “is being fast tracked because of the scheduled visit of the Pope next year,” Petilla said

In his letter to Petilla, Pope Francis said, “What part of ‘visiting the typhoon victims’ do you not understand? That is the primary reason I am coming to the Philippines. Do not displace them just to impress me because I am not that easily impressed, especially by those who are not truthful like yourself.”

The Vatican is considering papal visit guidelines which now include banning Mayor Petilla from coming anywhere close to the pope when he visits Leyte.###

Malacanang Has Always Intervened on Behalf the President’s Kin in Hacienda Luisita

Posted by Belarmino Dabalos Saguing

Rome, Italy October 11,2014

Reference:

Gi Estrada, Media Officer, +639166114181

Malacanang’s recent statement mocking a farmers’ group which filed criminal cases against the President’s relatives for atrocities in Hacienda Luisita only prove that Pres. BS Aquino still intervenes for his family’s interests in the plantation even if he supposedly divested his shares there.

Tarlac Development Corporation (TADECO) which is owned by the President’s uncle, Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr. and board member, Maria Elena “Ballsy” Aquino-Cruz, the President’s sister should instead be the ones to prove that they are not guilty of the crimes attributed to them, instead of Malacanang dismissing these as merely a smear campaign and PR stunt.

Malacanang from the very start intervened on behalf of the President’s family interests in the Hacienda. Through the Department of Agrarian Reform’s (DAR) Secretary, which the President appointed, it conducted a sham land reform program in Hacienda Luisita.

This included providing Barangay Captain Edgardo Aguas of Barangay Central a lot allocation in the land distribution even if he was never a farm worker in the Hacienda.

Lately, the barangay official, who is listed in the annual report of the Central Azucarera de Tarlac (CAT) as one of its stockholders was given P3.5 million for the President’s Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) for the construction of a new barangay hall. Malacanang also defended this by saying that this was important to provide services to the grassroots.

It is a different matter though what really is happening in the grassroots. In a sworn statement made by Raymundo Alcaide, one of those who filed cases against the President’s uncle and sister among others, stated:

On December 12, 2013, TADECO startled us by starting to bulldoze our farm lands and huts without any legal basis such as a court order. At around 5 pm, security guards of TADECO fenced off with barbed wire in the land I farmed and the hut where I lived, then set up an outpost using materials from my hut. They also prevented me from entering my hut and farm land.

Then on December 21, around 100 police including armed SWAT members and 20 security guards of TADECO came to destroy other farm lands and huts. Our barangay captain tried to negotiate with them including with Villamor Lagunero, the representative of TADECO. But the talks failed.

The one who drove the bulldozer that further destroyed crops and huts was Al Martinez, who is a known goon of Peping Cojuangco.

The Alyansa ng Manggagawang Bukid ng Asyenda Luisita (AMBALA) advises Malacanang just to shut up in the ongoing legal case and agrarian dispute in the Hacienda.  Its intervention only proves that the President’s “daang matuwid” or straight path is nothing but a sham.

More damning evidence against the President’s kin would be exposed when an International Fact Finding Mission (IFFM) investigates and documents more atrocities this coming October 16 – 18 in the Hacienda. 

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Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura

(Agricultural Workers Union)

Philippines

Follow UMA Pilipinas on Twitter

ED article ! Philippine Government Labor exportation Policy

Posted by Belarmino Dabalos Saguing

Rome, Italy October 10, 2014

The Philippine Labor Migration Policy of the Philippine government allows and encourages emigration. The Department of Foreign Affairs, which is one of the government's arms of emigration, grants Filipinos passports that allow entry to foreign countries. The Philippine government enacted the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995 (Republic Act 8042) in order to "institute the policies of overseas employment and establish a higher standard of protection and promotion of the welfare of migrant workers and their families and overseas Filipinos in distress



Demographics

According to the World Bank, 4,275,200 Filipinos have emigrated out of the country as of 2010. Among those who travel abroad are Overseas Contractual Workers (41%), immigrants (29%) and those who are undocumented (30%). As of 2009, 1,422,586 Filipino workers have contributed to remittances from abroad.[2]According to the book Philippine Labour Migration, these workers can be categorized into eight criteria, by type, countries of deployment, gender, rural or urban origin, civil status, age, education and skills, and occupation.

(chart1)

Main Destinations

Top destinations of Filipinos are within Asia and the Middle East, especially as seen in the data from 2007 to 2009. Saudi Arabia has become home to 291,419 Filipinos, followed by the United Arab Emirates with 196,815, as of 2009.

(chart 2)

Main Destinations

Usual Occupations

One of the recent trends in Filipino contractual workers is that as years pass by, more and more women have traveled out of the country, outnumbering the men. This can be attributed to the fact that domestic helpers and entertainers are in-demand globally. In fact entertainers destined for Japan and other East Asian countries have increased from 3.3% to 18.9% in a span of a decade from 1983-1984. As of 2009, the most Filipinos work as household service workers. Out of the total of 71, 557 household workers, 69,669 are women. Number of Deployed Landbased Overseas Filipino Workers by Major Occupational Category, 2005-2009

(chart 3)

main occupations

Remittances from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs)

(chart 59)

Remittances 2003-2010

History of Migration Policies

The history of Philippine Labor Migration policies can be traced as far back as 1565, when Filipinos started working in the dockyards and aboard ships travelling as far as Mexico, under the mandate of Spanish colonizers. In order to escape maltreatment by the Spaniards, many of those Filipino workers resorted to “jumping ship”, settling in state ports like Acapulco, Mexico and Louisiana, USA. They were the first generation of Filipino labor migrants. Since then, three “waves” of labor migration occurred (in the 1900-1940’s, the 1940s-1970’s, and the 1970s-1990’s) each wave taking the Philippines closer to becoming one of the world’s largest labor exporting countries, as it is today.

The third wave of migration that took place in the 1970s was due to the economic downturn caused by an increase in crude oil prices. At this time, job loss in the country was tremendous. On the other side of the globe, however, oil-exporting countries were making large profits and this created a demand for more laborers to support their new projects. Marcos saw this as a chance to utilize the Philippines’ surplus labor and he created a foreign policy called “Development Diplomacy,” which focused on exporting such surplus labor. In 1980, the number of overseas workers set for deployment by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) had increased by 75% from that of the previous year.


Current Government Policies

Around four centuries after the first Filipino laborers migrated, a law on Philippine labor migration was finally enacted in 1995. The creation of the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995 (RA 8042) was triggered by the growing pressures on the Philippines imposed by the murder case of Flor Contemplacion. This case almost severed bilateral ties between the Philippines and Singapore (Contemplacion’s host country), negatively affecting the former’s economy with a $61.3B decrease in investments by the latter.Graver than the economic distress caused by the Contemplacion case, was the reality it symbolized for the Filipinos. It was the final blow in a long struggle against the abuse suffered by Filipino migrant workers in their host countries. Besides that, other problems also existed, such as the abundance of so-called "tourist workers"—workers who migrated without going through the due process of labor migration and the proper briefing provided by regulatory government agencies. Faced with such problems, RA 8042 was created with its goal: "to institute the policies of overseas employment and establish a higher standard of protection and promotion of the welfare of migrant workers and their families and overseas Filipinos in distress.

RA 8042 provided mechanisms to protect Filipino labor migrants from issues such as illegal recruitment and abuse by their employers. Some of the services that the government was to provide as stipulated in the law (Articles II-V) were the following:

· To prevent illegal recruitment: issuance of travel advisories & information dissemination on labor and employment conditions and migration to be published thrice a quarter in a general circulation newspaper; creation of the Migrant Workers Loan Guarantee Fund of P100M for pre-departure and family loans of migrant workers

· To aid migrant workers in distress in their host countries: creation of Emergency Repatriation Fund of at least P100M for repatriation of migrant workers in times of war, epidemic, disasters (natural or manmade), etc.

· To enforce migrant workers’ rights in their host countries: establishment of Migrant Workers and Other Overseas Filipinos Resource Center which will provide, among many others, counsel and legal services, welfare assistance (medical services), post-arrival orientation, settlement and community networking services, human resource development (skills training), monitoring of daily situations of migrant workers, etc.; Rights and Enforcement Mechanisms Under International Human Rights Systems by the DFA (which will see to it that Filipino migrant workers who are victims of abuse and violation will receive the treatment they deserve under international human rights systems)

· For returning Filipino migrant workers: establishment of re-placement and monitoring center which will aid their reintegration into the Philippine society by developing livelihood programs and promoting their local employment, among other services

· Legal Services: creation of Legal Assistance Fund of P100M that will be used exclusively to provide legal services to Filipino migrant workers and overseas Filipinos in distress

In 2001, the Arroyo administration took a new stand regarding migrant workers. While RA 8042 stipulates that "the State does not promote overseas employment as a means to sustain economic growth and achieve national development… [rather], the existence of the overseas employment program rests solely on the assurance that the dignity and fundamental rights and freedoms of the Filipino citizen shall not, at any time be compromised or violated,"[6] President Arroyo declared overseas employment as a "legitimate option for the country’s work force. As such, government shall fully respect labor mobility, including the preference for overseas employment." Such statement signaled the shift of the government’s role from merely managing migrant workers in their ventures abroad to actively promoting "international labor migration as a growth strategy, especially of the higher skilled, knowledge-based workers."

In 2001–04, the following employment-promoting strategies were put action: enhancing the skills and competencies of the Philippine labor market by giving them easier access to training programs, facilitating employment by providing updated information on job opportunities to ensure the matching of workers’ skills and jobs, etc.

In 2010, RA 10022 or an Act Amending RA 8042 was enacted. The amendments to the law sought to further improve the protection mechanisms provided for Filipino migrant workers.[7]

From 1565 to 2010, the face of Philippine Labor Migration had continued to evolve. Today, this stronger, systematized policy that the country adopts is one that neighboring countries try to emulate



Source: Labor Exportation as a government policy in the Philippines (e-book)

Article | EU-wide crackdown on irregular immigration on the way

By Stephen Ogongo Ongong'a

Posted by Belarmino Dabalos Saguing

Rome, Italy 10/10/2014

Human rights organisations have strongly condemned the EU’s plan to launch a massive EU-wide police operation called “MOS MAIORUM” to hunt irregular immigrants from 13th to 26th October 2014.

The operation, which was approved by the Council of the European Union on 10th July 2014, will be implemented in the framework of the Italian Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

According to the Council of the European Union, the “MOS MAIORUM” operation will be “aiming at weakening the capacity of organized crime groups to facilitate illegal immigration to the EU and will be focusing on illegal border crossing.”

It will also be used “to collect information for intelligence and investigation purposes, regarding the main routes followed by migrants to enter in the common area and the modus operandi used by crime networks to smuggle people towards the EU territory, focusing also on the secondary movements.”

COSPE (Co-operation for the Development of Emerging Countries), an Italian non-profit association condemned the operation “MOS MAIORUM” and asked the Italian government not to prosecute the people rescued from drowning by the Mare-Nostrum operation.

It further urged the Italian government to avoid participating in this “inhumane and unnecessary” operation.

In a joint statement, organizations of Filipino migrants and advocates for migrants rights across Europe said they were concerned that “MOS MAIORUM” operation would be “used to indiscriminately round up irregular migrants who are merely doing socially necessary work that benefits the countries in Europe. “

They accused the “erroneous policies stemming from xenophobia and narrow nationalism instigated by extreme right-wing and neo-fascist political parties,” of forcing many to become irregular immigrants.

“Instead of deporting them and treating them as criminals, their irregular status should in fact be immediately rectified because it makes them vulnerable to abuse,” the organisations said.

In order to avoid arrest and deportation, human rights organisations are advising irregular immigrants to keep a low profile from 13th to 26th October 2014. They are advised to avoid places mainly frequented by immigrants. They are also advised to avoid places such as airports, highways, railway stations, subway stations, etc.

By Stephen Ogongo Ongong'a

Mos Maiorum taking effect on October 13 2014 in the Euyropean Union

Posted by Belarmino Dabalos Saguing
Rome, Italy October 8, 2014

On the 13th of October, a large-scale European police operation starts that targets undocumented migrants. Yet another criminalization of people on the run.

Bleri Lleshi

Translated to English from Dutch by Natalie Lefevre

It has become a tradition. Each time a country receives the presidency of the EU, it launches a large-scale action against migrants. Coincidence or not, with Latin or Old Greek names. Aerodromos, Aphrodite, Perkunas are the names of the actions of Greece, Cyprus and Lithuania respectively during their presidencies.

On the 10th of July, not even two weeks after Italy got the presidency of the EU, a police operation was announced. This action will be lead by the Italian ministry of Interior Affairs in ‘close cooperation’ with Frontex, Europol and the Schengen member states. The action received the name Mos Maiorum, which literally means ‘custom of the ancestors’. It refers to the first centuries of the Roman Republic.

In not one European media, mainstream or alternative, nor from any politician, have you heard about Mos Maiorum. In practice, between the 13th and 26th of October, approximately 20.000 police officers will be deployed in operations ranging from increasing checks in airports, stations, trains, highways to house searches. The main aim is to gain a better insight in the migration routes and to arrest as many undocumented migrants as possible.

The operation is presented as prevention against organized crime and human trafficking, but we know from the past that this is just an excuse. During previous operations, practically no human traffickers were arrested; only undocumented migrants who ended up in detention centers and ultimately were deported. In addition, Europe wants to extend the databases of Frontex and Europol through these kinds of operations.

Refugees are seen as a threat. The new migration streams are presented as questions of security and criminality while they are a consequence of wars and conflicts, especially in the Middle East and Africa.

Since World War II, there have never been this many refugees. According to numbers of the United Nations, there are 51 million refugees. Only in 2013, 17 million people were on the run. In Europe, we are convinced that all refugees of the world are coming here. However, in 2013, there were only 435.385 applications for asylum in the 28 European member states. Not that big of a deal.

On the other hand, Europe is the most dangerous destination for people on the run. According to research, since 2000 at least 40.000 migrants lost their lives on the way to Europe. The Mediterranean has become a mass grave. This has to do with Fort Europe. European countries and the EU have invested billions of Euros to protect their borders. In the buffer zone around the EU approximately 2 billion Euros was invested. Frontex received in 2013 as much as 85 million Euro. Europe launched last year Eurosur, in charge of the European border control, which will receive during the next 6 years approximately 250 million Euro. The amount of cameras and kilometers of fences on the European borders is exaggerated. Tens of thousands of border patrols were hired to be based at the borders, from Bulgaria to Spain. In countries as the UK, Hungary and Australia, refugees are locked up in jails. In Greece, Malta, Poland and Bulgaria even non-accompanied minor asylum-seekers are locked up.

The security and criminalization policies that Europe is executing and operations such as Mos Maiorum are a violation of the European Agreement to protect human rights, in particular the right to freedom and security. According to researchers and refugee organizations, human traffickers are the ones that take advantage of the current European policy. As soon as a route is closed, the smugglers are looking for new routes that are more dangers and more expensive for migrants.

It is evident that action should be taken against human traffickers. But to achieve this, operations such as Mos Maiorum are not necessary. There are sufficient laws at the level of states and at the European level to tackle crime. Police and justice needs to be more effective. The top persons of human trafficking are still walking the streets and we know who they are.

There are millions of people on the run because of wars, but since recently the amount of refugees is even greater because of natural disasters. The billions of Euros that are spent on the security of borders, could be used to establish legal trajectories to Europe. By enabling safe access routes, not only more lives will be saved, but it will also help to fight human trafficking.

The current European policy considers migrants as a threat, but without them Europe would be in an even deeper crisis. Tens of recent reports and researchers demonstrate that migrants play a crucial role in the European economy. In the UK, for instance, migrants have contributed 32 billion Euros to the economy. In the new Swedish government, there are four ministers with a migration background. Aida Hadzialic arrived at the age of 5 as a refugee from Bosnia and at age 26 she is the youngest minister in the government. Migrants are people who want an opportunity, but today these opportunities are taken away by Europe, while it actually really needs these people.

Bleri Lleshi is a political philosopher and author of various books.

Translated to English from Dutch by Natalie Lefevre