RP posts told: Seek amnesty for stranded OFWs

MANILA, Philippines – Philippine embassies and consular offices in the Middle East should make vigorous representation with host governments and seek amnesty for distressed, stranded, and overstaying OFWs, a group of migrant workers said on Wednesday. "It is now imperative for all Philippine posts abroad especially in the Middle East to work for amnesty for stranded and distressed OFWs and it could possibly be done via diplomatic way," said John Leonard Monterona, regional coordinator of Migrante – Middle East. Migrante’s appeal followed an advisory by the Philippine consulate general in Jeddah for Filipinos to avoid unscrupulous groups or individuals offering shortcuts in leaving Saudi Arabia. Consul General Ezzedin Tago said in his appeal that OFWs who wish to leave should not fall for offers of immediate repatriation for a fee because the Saudi government has no existing amnesty offer. If ever there is an amnesty offer, it would only be for those who overstayed their umrah, or haj visas, he said. He explained that workers who left their employers are not covered by such amnesties and they could end up languishing in deportation centers while local authorities check on their records. Ambassador Antonio P. Villamor has also repeatedly issued similar advisories in Riyadh. Migrante has noted an increasing numbers of stranded and overstaying OFWs in the Middle East, the latest addition of which include 37 who have camped out under the Khandara overpass in Jeddah in hopes of being rounded up by the immigration police for immediate deportation. "According to our Migrante-Jeddah chapter, the numbers of distressed OFWs in Khandara bridge swell to about 100 during day time. It is to their observation that there are a considerable numbers out there," Monterona added. Monterona said that while it was well for Philippine mission officials to keep reminding OFWs against absconding from their work and to abide by the laws of host countries, it was also incumbent on the missions to assist OFWs in distress. And one way of assisting distressed or overstaying OFWs is to work for an amnesty program. "We would like to remind our diplomatic officials that many of the distressed and stranded OFWs are victims of labor malpractices, nonpayment of salaries, overworked, and sexual and physical abuses committed against them by their employers, thus they abscond from their abusive employers," Monterona said. "That is why RP posts abroad are their to protect the interests of OFWs, and represents OFWs interests in relation to the host government's internal or immigration policies," he added. Pro-active measures Monterona said if absconding is a crime in most of the Middle Eastern countries, Philippine diplomats must not think and treat them that way, but instead provide them swift assistance for the early resolution of their cases. "Our distressed OFWs who are often caught between the devil and deep blue sea would choose to be apprehended by immigration police, hoping for their eventual repatriation," he added. "That is why pro-active actions and measures must be taken by our diplomatic officials, first to swiftly approach distressed, stranded and overstaying OFWs especially those in Khandara bridge to get their names, make a list and record their respective cases, and push for a possible amnesty deal for their repatriation," Monterona said. He said it’s not really impossible to secure an amnesty program from the host countries, including the government of Saudi Arabia. He cited what happened in 2007 when the Saudi Arabia granted amnesty to 925 overstayers and mostly runaway OFWs or those facing labor cases after the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in Manila ordered the consulate in Jeddah to make representations with Saudi authorities. Then Consul General Pendosina N. Lomondot not only made official representations but also tapped personal friends among Saudi immigration, labor and foreign affairs officials. Armed with a blanket authority by the national government, Saudi officials allowed even those who had labor cases to leave the kingdom, all at the expense of their own government. - GMANews.TV