OFWs start feeling brunt of PHL, Taiwan deportation row

With stricter application rules for jobs in Taiwan, overseas Filipino workers (OFW) are now starting to feel the brunt of Taipei’s rage over the deportation by the Philippines of 14 of its nationals to China instead of Taiwan. According to a report on GMA News’ “24 Oras", visa applicants for employment in Taiwan, which normally get their applications approved in only one week, are now being told they have to wait for as long as four months. Apart from this, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) has also imposed additional requirements for Taiwan-bound OFWs, such as a “red ribbon" or an authentication from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) for such documents as a National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) clearance, birth certificate, and marriage contract. Applicants will now also have to present identification cards issued by the Social Security System, Philhealth and Commission on Elections. Taiwan has also suspended its online visa assistance to Filipinos, according to Vice President Jejomar Binay in a separate statement Taiwan’s Council of Labor Affairs has likewise threatened to consider a retaliatory measure of freezing the request for workers from the Philippines, added Binay, who is also the presidential adviser on OFW concerns. An official of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) added it is possible that Filipino workers now in Taiwan may lose their jobs and be sent home. “Ang mga Taiwanese, clannish ‘yan. Kaya nilang i-terminate ang contract ng mga ito, mawawalan ng trabaho ang mga ‘yan, sapilitang uuwi rito," said MECO chair Amadeo Perez Jr. in the “24 Oras" newscast. (The Taiwanese are clannish. They can terminate the contracts of Filipino workers, who will lose their jobs and be forced to go back home.) The Pilipino Manpower Agencies Accredited to Taiwan (PILMAT) said the controversy is likewise expected to delay the departure of some 5,000 OFWs bound for Taiwan this month. “Madi-discourage na mag-apply ang mga worker. At the same time, ‘yung mga nandito ngayon, pwede mong sabihin na madodoble na yung gastos, at kung ‘di naman taga-Manila ‘yun, talagang kawawang kawawa ‘yan. Baon na sa utang," added PILMAT president Jackson Gan. (Workers will be discouraged to apply. At the same time, for those who are already here [in Manila], we could say the costs for applying will double. And those who are from outside Manila, they will surely suffer a greater burden and fall deeper into debt.) The deportation row imperils not only the status of some 80,000 Filipino workers currently in Taiwan, but is also expected to impact negatively on the Philippine economy. The country stands to lose some 600 million Taiwan dollars or roughly P900 million in yearly remittances from Taiwan-based OFWs. Palace: No apologies Despite these possible consequences, however, the Manila government remains adamant against issuing an apology as demanded by Taipei. "We did what was proper for us to do. It is based on our national interest to do so," said Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda, saying that Malacañang will not issue any apology about the incident. Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile likewise said the Philippines is ready to fight back should Taiwan vent its rage on Filipino workers there. “We are not living in a perfect world. They can all drive our people back to the Philippines, and we will also drive their people out of the Philippines," Enrile said in the same newscast. President Benigno Aquino III, however, has said he is sending an emissary to Taipei to explain why Manila deported the 14 Taiwanese to China, but it remains unclear who the emissary will be. Taipei’s special representative in Manila, Donald C.T. Lee, meanwhile is set to leave the country tomorrow after he was recalled in the midst of the deportation row. Lee on Wednesday demanded an apology from the Aquino administration for deporting 14 Taiwanese to mainland China instead of Taiwan, amid protests from Lee and the Taiwanese’s lawyers. On December 27 last year, Beijing asked the National Bureau of Investigation to arrest on charges of fraud 24 foreigners, of which 14 turned out to be from Taiwan and 10 from China. They were consequently deported to mainland China on Feb. 2, despite attempts by TECO officials and lawyers — who maintained that the 14 were Taiwanese citizens — to have them deported to Taiwan. VP Binay to Taipei: Spare OFWs As this developed, Binay on Thursday expressed hopes that Taiwanese authorities will spare OFWs from any form of retaliation. “They are in Taiwan to work hard and earn a decent income for their families," said Binay, adding that he is “optimistic that we can move past this misunderstanding." Binay also said he has been assured by the Department of Labor and Employment that it is ready with contingency measures and are prepared to extend help to OFWs in Taiwan. On the other hand, migrant rights advocacy groups have scored what they described as the Philippine government’s “diplomatic faux pas", with OFWs yet again at the receiving end of the political backlash. In a statement, militant group Migrante International blamed the Aquino administration’s “lack of political savvy and indiscretion" as the cause of the supposed blunder. “We advise our officials to always think first of how their moves will affect Filipino nationals. Our OFWs are the ones who are bearing the brunt of their blunders and foul-ups," said Migrante chairperson Garry Martinez. He added OFWs in Taiwan have already conveyed to the group their fear of a public backlash. “They are concerned because they say that there are insinuations from the Taiwanese public calling on their government stop the deployment of Filipinos," said Martinez. “We are also very much concerned of the possible negative effects of this faux pas on our OFWs who are already there. The Aquino government should immediately do damage control," he added. Hong Kong-based Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants (APMM) also said the Aquino administration does not seem prepared to address a possible mass layoff of Filipino workers in Taiwan. “It should be recalled that the Philippine government was so unprepared [for] the mass layoff of their workers in Taiwan when it was hit by the crisis. Is the current Aquino government prepared to take on the thousands of OFWs who may find themselves without jobs if Taiwan really freezes the hiring of Filipinos?" said APMM program coordinator Joram Calimutan. Calimutan added this is not the first time that OFWs are being made to face the consequences of the Philippine government’s wrong decisions. “The botched rescue during the Manila hostage crisis last year also threatened the deployment of OFWs to Hong Kong and even cost the jobs of some," he said. Calimutan urged the government to take into account the rights and well-being of Filipino migrant workers when making decisions and declarations on foreign policy.—JV, GMA News