Migrant org scores POEA's lack of consultation
By JULIE JAVELLANA-SANTOS
abs-cbnNEWS.com
A regional migrant organization scored the government for having pushed through with the implementation of a controversial circular which tightened rules on direct hiring without holding consultations either from migrant labor groups or overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) themselves.
In a letter to Labor Secretary Arturo Brion, Center for Migrant Advocacy Executive Director Ellene Sana expressed her group’s concern and of CMA’s co-members in the Philippine Migrants Rights Watch that the problem of non-consultation was not theirs but that of the land-based representative of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA).
This land-based representative on the POEA governing board has since been identified as former OFW Sectoral Representative Isidro Aligada.
"CMA, together with some of our colleagues from Philippine Migrants Rights Watch and the trade unions who were present in the Friday consultation (with Brion), did not know of any consultation conducted in this regard," the letter stated to the secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
Sana said there should have been a fall-back in the form of the CCOFW (consultative council on overseas Filipino workers) which could have been called for the purpose of consultation.
After all, she told abs-cbnNEWS.com, "the CCOFW is our regular forum with the DOLE and the POEA."
Nevertheless, Sana said "we still believe that the DOLE-POEA could have initiated a series of consultations on MC4 (Memorandum Circular No.4) considering the implication of the policies to the OFWs."
"We demand this much from you because we consider ourselves your partner as affirmed by RA 8042 Section 2 h. which states that NGOs are partners of the State in the protection of OFWs and in the promotion of their welfare, the State shall cooperate with them in a spirit of trust and mutual respect."
Sana reminded Brion that "OFWs are not merely docile subjects and recipients of government policies and programs. Part of their empowerment, of being able to stand up for their rights and be protected is to be visible, counted, consulted and be part of the governance structures of our government. "
Reached for comment, Aligada told abs-cbnNEWS.com he has plans of calling for consultations since MC4 is just a re-implementation of a former order issued by a former labor secretary.
"Mas masipag lang itong si Brion (Brion is just more hardworking than his predecessors)," Aligada said.
He said he will definitely get input on how to amend MC4 to make it palatable both to the migrant groups.
CMA and other migration related groups earlier met with POEA Deputy Administrator for Employment and Welfare Viveca Catalig who explained that the bond to be required of employers of directly hired OFWs would be like an insurance package whose premium would actually only be $50 plus per contract.
Catalig reportedly said "clear existing policies on migrant worker protection" would supersede the circular. Sana explained OFWs in countries like Singapore would be exempted because a standard employment contract there already contained provisions for insurance for possible repatriation and non-payment salaries.
"For destination countries/ territories where the social and labor laws to protect migrant workers are in place and reflected in the work contracts, MC4 guidelines may then not be necessary anymore," Sana said.
abs-cbnNEWS.com
A regional migrant organization scored the government for having pushed through with the implementation of a controversial circular which tightened rules on direct hiring without holding consultations either from migrant labor groups or overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) themselves.
In a letter to Labor Secretary Arturo Brion, Center for Migrant Advocacy Executive Director Ellene Sana expressed her group’s concern and of CMA’s co-members in the Philippine Migrants Rights Watch that the problem of non-consultation was not theirs but that of the land-based representative of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA).
This land-based representative on the POEA governing board has since been identified as former OFW Sectoral Representative Isidro Aligada.
"CMA, together with some of our colleagues from Philippine Migrants Rights Watch and the trade unions who were present in the Friday consultation (with Brion), did not know of any consultation conducted in this regard," the letter stated to the secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
Sana said there should have been a fall-back in the form of the CCOFW (consultative council on overseas Filipino workers) which could have been called for the purpose of consultation.
After all, she told abs-cbnNEWS.com, "the CCOFW is our regular forum with the DOLE and the POEA."
Nevertheless, Sana said "we still believe that the DOLE-POEA could have initiated a series of consultations on MC4 (Memorandum Circular No.4) considering the implication of the policies to the OFWs."
"We demand this much from you because we consider ourselves your partner as affirmed by RA 8042 Section 2 h. which states that NGOs are partners of the State in the protection of OFWs and in the promotion of their welfare, the State shall cooperate with them in a spirit of trust and mutual respect."
Sana reminded Brion that "OFWs are not merely docile subjects and recipients of government policies and programs. Part of their empowerment, of being able to stand up for their rights and be protected is to be visible, counted, consulted and be part of the governance structures of our government. "
Reached for comment, Aligada told abs-cbnNEWS.com he has plans of calling for consultations since MC4 is just a re-implementation of a former order issued by a former labor secretary.
"Mas masipag lang itong si Brion (Brion is just more hardworking than his predecessors)," Aligada said.
He said he will definitely get input on how to amend MC4 to make it palatable both to the migrant groups.
CMA and other migration related groups earlier met with POEA Deputy Administrator for Employment and Welfare Viveca Catalig who explained that the bond to be required of employers of directly hired OFWs would be like an insurance package whose premium would actually only be $50 plus per contract.
Catalig reportedly said "clear existing policies on migrant worker protection" would supersede the circular. Sana explained OFWs in countries like Singapore would be exempted because a standard employment contract there already contained provisions for insurance for possible repatriation and non-payment salaries.
"For destination countries/ territories where the social and labor laws to protect migrant workers are in place and reflected in the work contracts, MC4 guidelines may then not be necessary anymore," Sana said.
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