Labor advocate: Ban could harm PHL ties with 41 countries

A labor advocacy group said the Philippine government's decision to ban the deployment of overseas Filipino workers in 41 nations could harm its relations with those countries. The Blas F. Ople Policy Center, a non-government organization focused on labor and migration issues, said the Philippine government should brace itself for adverse reactions from any of the 41 countries cited as unsuitable for Filipino workers. The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) released two board resolutions on Wednesday — one that approves OFW deployment to 49 countries and another that bans OFWs from 41 nations. The countries were classified according to Republic Act 10022, or the amended Migrant Workers Act. In a statement, the Center noted that although the government had to implement the law (Section 3, Republic Act 10022), it must be ready to defend its actions before irate members of the international community. “In our bid to provide our overseas workers with information regarding destination countries, let us make sure that long-standing friendships with certain countries would not be harmed," Susan Ople, president of the Center, said. Ople said the Department of Foreign Affairs through its foreign posts must be prepared to defend the outcome of the POEA’s certification process. Ople, youngest daughter of the late Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas Ople, noted that this was the first time that the Philippines imposed a deployment ban on 41 countries in a single day. “Although these are minor job markets, certain countries like India are huge trading partners. Since we are imposing the ban, the least we could do is to explain the reasons behind it in a proper manner through diplomatic and trade channels," Ople said.

POEA resolutions In May, the POEA’s Governing Board Resolution No. 2 listed 76 countries that were OFW-friendly, which also did not include the six destinations. However, the POEA clarified, "The deployment of OFWs to these countries [not included in the list] shall continue except where deployment ban is in effect." On Wednesday, POEA's Resolution No. 6 identified 49 more countries that were OFW-friendly, bringing the total to 125 receiving countries. Meanwhile, the agency's Resolution No. 7— also released on Wednesday— banned deployment to 41 countries. In an interview on dzBB radio on Wednesday, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said the ban will affect “a little over 200" OFWs who can avail of the government’s integration program if they wish to return home. The POEA is an attached agency of the DOLE. Insufficient information? The Ople Center said the POEA lists did not come with adequate information for OFWs and their families. The Center said that overseas job applicants should still be careful in accepting job offers to work in countries deemed "compliant" by the POEA. “For example, the Ivory Coast is listed as a compliant country and yet we know of trafficked victims held against their will in its red light district," Ople claimed. A former labor undersecretary, Ople called on the POEA to put up a global hotline to respond to questions arising from the 41-country deployment ban. More contentious list Meanwhile, Ople said the recruitment industry and millions of OFWs are awaiting the POEA's next and final list that would include several Gulf countries with a high concentration of Filipino workers. “That would be a more contentious list. But ultimately, the law – unless amended - binds everyone to respect and uphold this certification process." Mixed feelings Meanwhile, members of the migrant group Migrante International said they are having “mixed feelings" about the matter. In a statement, Migrante International chairperson Garry Martinez raised a number of concerns about the ban, even though they see it as “a positive development" from the government, which “seems to be taking serious action" to protect the OFWs. “I could reasonably say that our fears and worries outweigh any other positive feelings we may have now," Martinez said. He said they are worried that the ban would only result in “more cases of human trafficking and illegal recruitment." He also expressed concern over the government’s ability to provide job opportunities for the Filipinos who will lose their jobs in line with the ban. “Kung seryoso sila sa pag-ban, dapat ay seryosohin din nila ang paglikha ng trabaho at pagbigay ng dagdag-sahod dito sa Pilipinas," Martinez said. - with Rose-An Jessica Dioquino, VVP, GMA News