MECO chief stands firm, says Taiwan hiring freeze affecting at least 16,000 OFWs
Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) chairman Amadeo Perez on Friday stood by his statement that the hiring freeze being imposed by Taiwan has affected at least 16,000 Filipino workers.
Perez issued his statement after a report in The Philippine Star quoted Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) press division director Chang Pong as denying Perez's claim that Filipinos were refused working visas by TECO.
Perez issued his statement after a report in The Philippine Star quoted Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) press division director Chang Pong as denying Perez's claim that Filipinos were refused working visas by TECO.
The Philippine Star quoted Perez himself as saying that the OFWs' predicament was an offshoot of the May 9 fatal shooting of a Taiwanese fisherman by Philippine Coast Guard personnel off a disputed territory in northern Philippines.
“In fact, since the shooting incident, TECO has already issued 2,803 working visas for applicants with work permits approved before the May 15th sanctions,” Chang was quoted in the newspaper report.
But in an interview with GMA News Online, Perez pointed out the working visas were issued prior to the sanctions.
“That was before the sanctions were implemented after the shooting incident,” Perez said.
He said the real situation now was that at least 16,000 Filipinos could not work in Taiwan as a result of the hiring freeze that Taiwan has implemented.
“Kung talagang hindi sila nag-issue ng freeze hire order, bakit ang daming Pilipinong nagrereklamo?” Perez asked.
In an earlier report, Perez broke down the number as 10,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFW) whose contracts weren't renewed and an additional 6,000 Filipinos who were not issued working visas.
He added that the 10,000 OFWs whose contracts weren't renewed were listed during the period of June to the first week of July.
He added that the 10,000 OFWs whose contracts weren't renewed were listed during the period of June to the first week of July.
The Philippine Star report also said that “...other working visa applicants are under screening and their papers are still being processed.”
During the phone interview, Perez explained that technically, Taiwan may still be hiring Filipinos but TECO added so many requirements which slowed the hiring process drastically, making it close to impossible for Filipinos to actually complete it.
Perez also cited a press release where TECO said they will only lift the hiring freeze if the Philippine government releases 'positive' results of the investigation.
Taiwan is demanding a formal apology, compensation to the victim’s family, punishment of the perpetrators and the arrangement of fishery talks.
“As long as the Philippine government responds positively to all the above-mentioned requirements, the already implemented sanctions, including the freeze hiring of OFWs, will be lifted,” TECO said.
The Philippines has already fulfilled the first three demands but Taiwan has declined to recognize the apology of President Ninoy Aquino III sourced through a personal envoy – Perez himself.
The Philippines has already fulfilled the first three demands but Taiwan has declined to recognize the apology of President Ninoy Aquino III sourced through a personal envoy – Perez himself.
However, Perez said that the family has already accepted the apology.
He also said in a separate report that there may be some complications with the fourth demand since the issue has been raised as early as 2006 but no progress has been made.
He also cited the Philippine Constitution and Fisheries Code which both state that free access of other countries in our marine territory is forbidden.
He also cited the Philippine Constitution and Fisheries Code which both state that free access of other countries in our marine territory is forbidden.
There are around 87,000 Filipinos in Taiwan, according to the MECO. — RSJ, GMA News
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