RP solons want EU rules on immigration probed

MANILA, Philippines - Militant lawmakers are seeking an investigation into tough immigration measures passed by the European Union, and their effects on some
953,519 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) there.

The lawmakers urged the House Committees on Overseas Workers' Affairs and Foreign Affairs to look into the human rights impact on the OFWs, 112,990 of whom are undocumented.

In a statement on the House of Representatives website, the militant lawmakers said migrant workers across Europe face threats to their jobs and human rights following the passage last June 18 by the European Parliament of the Directive of Return.

Such a measure will allow up to 18 months of detention without trial of undocumented immigrants who fail to voluntarily leave the bloc and face a re-entry ban of up to five years.

Gabriela Reps. Luzviminda Ilagan and Liza Maza, Bayan Muna Reps. Satur Ocampo and Teddy Casino, and Anakpawis Rep. Rafael Mariano issued House Resolution 682 seeking the inquiry.

According to the lawmakers, figures for the first half of 2007 showed that of the more than 8 million illegal migrants in the EU, more than 200,000 were already arrested and some 90,000 expelled.

"More arrests, deportations and human rights violations are feared to be committed when the law takes full effect in 2010," they warned in their resolution.

Accordingly, women up to the present continue to dominate the population of OFWs in Europe.

In a 1995 study, the lawmakers cited that women comprise the majority of OFWs in Europe with: 80% in Italy; 65% in Britain; 85% in Spain; 90% in Greece; 80% in Germany; 95 % in France; 90% in Ireland; and, the majority in The Netherlands and other European countries.

The solons urged the Philippine government to learn from the migrants' experiences with the stricter immigration laws of the United States instead of simply dismissing as mere speculation the growing fear of the EU law's harsh effects on OFWs.

They cited that United Nations Special Rapporteur Jorge Bustamante said that US immigration laws denies migrants basic due process and human rights, and violates international law.

Also, they pointed out that even the US' very own Supreme Court, declared in 2005 that it is unconstitutional for government authorities to detain illegal immigrants indefinitely. - GMANews.TV

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