Stop deployment to countries that can’t protect OFWs, gov’t urged


By AMITA LEGASPI, GMA News
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Thursday urged the government to strictly implement the law on overseas Filipinos and not allow the deployment of workers to countries where their rights are not protected.
Gatchalian said he was dismayed when he learned during the hearing on the case of Joanna Demafelis that Kuwait is only considered partially compliant under Republic Act 8042 or the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995.
“Nadismaya ako kahapon, we found out in the hearing na ang Kuwait ay partially compliant, ibig sabihin ina-address naman ang problema ng kababayan natin pero wala silang ganitong batas kaya nagkakaroon ng problema,” he said during Kapihan sa Senado.
Section 4 of RA 80 states the overseas Filipino workers should only be deployed in countries where their rights are protected.
Suicide cases
Gatchalian said in Kuwait, of the 200 Filipinos who died, 10 percent or 20 cases are suicide cases.
“Just imagine the suffering na nararamdaman ng ating mga kababayan kaya sila nagpakamatay. Indication ito na malaki ang problema na nangyayari doon,” he said.
Gatchalian also said this should make the government review its policy and stop sending workers to countries that cannot protect them.
“We need to review our policy na kung walang protection, huwag na tayo magpadala ng kababayan doon. Nakita naman natin na talagang grabe ang pang-aabuso,” he said.
“Hindi tayo dapat magpadala ng mga kababayan doon until maging full compliant sila na bibigyang proteksyon ang migrant workers, kasi ito ang senyales na wala silang pakialaman sa migrant workers,” he added.
He urged the government to give extra focus on household service workers, like Demafelis, whose body was found in a freezer in Kuwait, as they are the most vulnerable to abuses.
Red flags
Gatchalian likewise said the government should immediately spot "red flags" in countries of destination of OFWs.
“I think the key elements there kung walang batas na nagpo-protection, red flag na sa atin; kung maraming cases of abuse, red flag na. We have to make sure that the laws and mechanism to protect our people are there,” he said.
He added it would be better if President Rodrigo Duterte will go to Kuwait so he can discuss with the officials there the condition of the Filipino workers.
“Malaking bagay ‘yun kung ang ating Pangulo ay personal na pupunta roon. Matagal na tayong may problema sa Middle East countries,” he said. —KBK, GMA News

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