“OFWS MUST BE TREATED HUMANELY BY HOST COUNTRIES ALL THE TIME—CHR CHAIRPERSON LEILA M. DE LIMA”
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) will be a key participant of the Global Forum on Migration & Development during the relevant activity to be held at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), CCP Complex, Roxas Blvd., Metro Manila.
According to CHR Chairperson Leila M. De Lima, the Forum on Migration & Development is an appropriate venue to provide more effective mechanisms in laying down better rules and regulations with regards to safeguarding the welfare and wellbeing of thousands of migrant workers all over the world, including the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
“As the world continues to be impressed with the reliability, competence and skillfulness of the Filipinos as contract workers, the government must double its effort to realize what they (the government) refer them to be -- as the country’s economic heroes.”
The CHR Chief said that as a `sending nation’ of an estimated eight (8) million OFWs to over one hundred `host or receiving countries’, it is not enough that these `unsung’ heroes receive merely lip service from concerned government officials.
However, the CHR head admitted that through the years, the government has effectively placed measures in addressing the needs of the OFWs since the Philippines is one of the few sending countries where mechanisms for migrant workers, especially during emergency cases, are in place. Nonetheless, as a `temporary’ way of earning a living `away’ from their respective families, several factors must also be considered in the process.
Chairperson De Lima added that the social cost of migration, for example, is one of the many `cons’ of being an OFW. “It’s not always the money that counts but the relationship of the family that matters.” So there should be a balance between the two, and the government must have a support system for the families who are temporarily left behind.”
It is a fact, the CHR Chairperson said, that the remittances of the OFWs continue to serve as the economic equilibrium of the country. As such, the government, specifically the people from our Embassies and the Philippine Overseas Labor Offices (POLOs), should assert the beneficial aspects that the host countries derive from our `own’ nationals. This is where we need to strengthen bilateral agreements especially to countries where mistreatment and, worse, maltreatment abound.
“More than any other relevant discussions on this forum, let this be the venue to put an end to any harsh treatment toward any migrant worker in any part of the globe,” De Lima stressed.
The Commission on Human Rights would always assert fair treatment to every Filipino or any individual for that matter, regardless of their status in life, be it here or outside the country.
CHR Director Government Linkages Karen A. Dumpit sits as CHR’s observer during the two-day forum. The first meeting of the forum was initiated and hosted by Belgium. Representatives from other countries will also participate during the dialogues and discussions. One of the most interesting issues will focus on the positive impacts on both the communities of origin and the communities of destinations. xxx
According to CHR Chairperson Leila M. De Lima, the Forum on Migration & Development is an appropriate venue to provide more effective mechanisms in laying down better rules and regulations with regards to safeguarding the welfare and wellbeing of thousands of migrant workers all over the world, including the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
“As the world continues to be impressed with the reliability, competence and skillfulness of the Filipinos as contract workers, the government must double its effort to realize what they (the government) refer them to be -- as the country’s economic heroes.”
The CHR Chief said that as a `sending nation’ of an estimated eight (8) million OFWs to over one hundred `host or receiving countries’, it is not enough that these `unsung’ heroes receive merely lip service from concerned government officials.
However, the CHR head admitted that through the years, the government has effectively placed measures in addressing the needs of the OFWs since the Philippines is one of the few sending countries where mechanisms for migrant workers, especially during emergency cases, are in place. Nonetheless, as a `temporary’ way of earning a living `away’ from their respective families, several factors must also be considered in the process.
Chairperson De Lima added that the social cost of migration, for example, is one of the many `cons’ of being an OFW. “It’s not always the money that counts but the relationship of the family that matters.” So there should be a balance between the two, and the government must have a support system for the families who are temporarily left behind.”
It is a fact, the CHR Chairperson said, that the remittances of the OFWs continue to serve as the economic equilibrium of the country. As such, the government, specifically the people from our Embassies and the Philippine Overseas Labor Offices (POLOs), should assert the beneficial aspects that the host countries derive from our `own’ nationals. This is where we need to strengthen bilateral agreements especially to countries where mistreatment and, worse, maltreatment abound.
“More than any other relevant discussions on this forum, let this be the venue to put an end to any harsh treatment toward any migrant worker in any part of the globe,” De Lima stressed.
The Commission on Human Rights would always assert fair treatment to every Filipino or any individual for that matter, regardless of their status in life, be it here or outside the country.
CHR Director Government Linkages Karen A. Dumpit sits as CHR’s observer during the two-day forum. The first meeting of the forum was initiated and hosted by Belgium. Representatives from other countries will also participate during the dialogues and discussions. One of the most interesting issues will focus on the positive impacts on both the communities of origin and the communities of destinations. xxx
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