RP still model country for migrant workers

MANILA, Philippines - Contrary to a migrant group's claim, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the Philippines was not stricken out from the UN's list of model-countries for migrant workers, simply because no list exists.

Foreign Affairs spokesperson Ed Malaya said the group might have been led to believe that the Philippines was demoted by the United Nations since the country did not appear in the Guide on Ratification of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and members of Their Families.

"How can the Philippines be deleted when no list exists?" Malaya told GMANews.TV in an interview.

Grace Punongbayan of Migrante Europe chapter said the Philippines was deleted as a model state at the meeting of the Steering Committee for the Campaign For Ratification of the Migrants Rights Convention presided by Ms. Carla Edelenbos, secretary of the Committee on Migrant Workers, at the UN headquarters in Geneva last April 8. [See: RP no longer UN's model-country in OFW protection]

But Ellene Sana of the Center for Migrant Advocacy, who attended the 10th session of the United Nations Committee on Migrant Workers held April 20 in Switzerland, said no country has been listed by the UN as a model-country for the protection of migrant workers.

"We are just being touted as a model-country," she said.

During last year's UN session, MalacaƱang reported that the International Labor Organization and the International Organization on Migration have commended the Philippines for handling well the situation of migration.

"Indonesia said RP’s ‘great investment to the issue of migrant workers can serve as a model for other countries,’ a sentiment echoed by Guatemala and Egypt that asked for more concrete information on RP programs including bilateral agreements to give workers social security," the statement said. [See: RP's migration program seen as model - DoLE exec]

The DFA denied Migrante's assertion and said that the Philippines was even praised by members of the Committee on Migrant Workers as a model in the field of migration and for its robust institutional capacity to protect its citizens abroad.

The country also figured well in the "Guide on Ratification of the International Convention on the Protection of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families" as a strong supporter of the Migrant Workers Convention, according to the DFA.

"Page 28 of the Guide stated that: 'Several countries, such as Mexico and the Philippines, have engaged in diplomatic efforts to widen ratification…'" the DFA said.

The Philippines has had more than 30 years of experience with policies on migrant workers since the first batch of Filipino contractual workers left for the Middle East in the early 1970s.

Republic Act 8042 or the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995 is also the first legislation in the region outlining standards and policies protecting OFWs. - GMANews.TV

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

POPCOM, gagamit ng ‘digital platforms’ para pagtibayin ang mga ugnayang pampamilya

Selling of balikbayan boxes online part of deal between sender, firm —BOC By JOAHNA LEI CASILAO, GMA Integrated News

Dozens injured after train derails in Netherlands: emergency services --- Agence France-Presse