RP needs to step up protection for OFWs, says UN report
Philippines - Although the United Nations (UN) was generally satisfied with the Philippine government’s human rights report, the international organization raised concern over the welfare of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
A report by the UN Economic and Social Council (Ecosoc) released on Wednesday on the occasion of Human Rights Day said in its concluding observation that OFWs remain vulnerable to various abuses in their destination countries.
“Despite efforts undertaken by the State party (Philippine government), OFWs continue to face discriminatory treatment and abuses," the committee wrote in its advance and unedited report.
The report noted that women migrant workers, especially in the household service industry, often fall prey to employers who abuse them physically, psychologically and sexually.
In its recommendation, the report said the Philippine government should improve existing services given to OFWs, strike more bilateral agreements with destination countries with high incidences of migrant worker abuse and provide legal assistance to OFWs and ensure that their rights are observed.
The Ecosoc was also concerned that while the Philippines had plenty of laws, the number of prosecutions and convictions of traffickers was very low.
In its report submitted to the Ecosoc last month in Geneva, Switzerland, the Philippine government claimed it has been able to ease the unemployment problem in the country by generating more jobs.
Ellen Sana, executive director of the Center for Migrant Advocacy (CMA), welcomed the UN report and echoed concerns about the plight of more than eight million Filipinos overseas.
Sana said that in April 2009, they would make another parallel report before the UN Migrant Workers' Committee when the Philippines will again present a report on their compliance with migrant workers rights.
"This is not to embarrass the government but to make them more responsive," Sana said.
Last November, CMA along with other human rights, labor workers, and education groups submitted a shadow report to the UN to counter the government report on the current situation in the country.
The UN heard the Philippines’ report last November 11 and 12.
“The government failed to account that they considered overseas employment as a solution to the unemployment problem in the country," Sana asserted in an earlier interview.
A total of 121 Filipinos leave the country every hour to look for greener pastures abroad, the CMA said.
The Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA) has said OFWs deployment reached 1.116 million from January to October 2008, up by a robust 25.5% (+227,780) compared to the 888,339 OFWs deployed worldwide in the same period in 2007.
GMANews.TV tried calling officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs for comment but was unable to get a reply as of posting time. - GMANews.TV
A report by the UN Economic and Social Council (Ecosoc) released on Wednesday on the occasion of Human Rights Day said in its concluding observation that OFWs remain vulnerable to various abuses in their destination countries.
“Despite efforts undertaken by the State party (Philippine government), OFWs continue to face discriminatory treatment and abuses," the committee wrote in its advance and unedited report.
The report noted that women migrant workers, especially in the household service industry, often fall prey to employers who abuse them physically, psychologically and sexually.
In its recommendation, the report said the Philippine government should improve existing services given to OFWs, strike more bilateral agreements with destination countries with high incidences of migrant worker abuse and provide legal assistance to OFWs and ensure that their rights are observed.
The Ecosoc was also concerned that while the Philippines had plenty of laws, the number of prosecutions and convictions of traffickers was very low.
In its report submitted to the Ecosoc last month in Geneva, Switzerland, the Philippine government claimed it has been able to ease the unemployment problem in the country by generating more jobs.
Ellen Sana, executive director of the Center for Migrant Advocacy (CMA), welcomed the UN report and echoed concerns about the plight of more than eight million Filipinos overseas.
Sana said that in April 2009, they would make another parallel report before the UN Migrant Workers' Committee when the Philippines will again present a report on their compliance with migrant workers rights.
"This is not to embarrass the government but to make them more responsive," Sana said.
Last November, CMA along with other human rights, labor workers, and education groups submitted a shadow report to the UN to counter the government report on the current situation in the country.
The UN heard the Philippines’ report last November 11 and 12.
“The government failed to account that they considered overseas employment as a solution to the unemployment problem in the country," Sana asserted in an earlier interview.
A total of 121 Filipinos leave the country every hour to look for greener pastures abroad, the CMA said.
The Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA) has said OFWs deployment reached 1.116 million from January to October 2008, up by a robust 25.5% (+227,780) compared to the 888,339 OFWs deployed worldwide in the same period in 2007.
GMANews.TV tried calling officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs for comment but was unable to get a reply as of posting time. - GMANews.TV
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