Pro-OFW groups, recruitment firms to hold dialogue on human trafficking

Noting Pope Francis' strong anti-human trafficking stance, leaders of civil society organizations and representatives from the recruitment industry will hold a dialogue on the eve of his five-day visit to the Philippines.

In a statement Tuesday, Susan Ople, head of the Blas F. Ople Policy Center and Training Institute, said the meeting between agencies is a response to the Pope's call for a "global war" against modern slavery and labor exploitation.

The one-day dialogue on January 14 will bring in experts in the government to help the participants assess the impact of the ASEAN economic integration on the recruitment, deployment and reintegration of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), especially among those most vulnerable.

Pope Francis will be in the Philippines from January 15 to 19.

According to data cited by the Center from the 2014 Global Slavery Index, “[A]bout 29.8 million people are working as modern-day slaves, 18.7 million of whom are exploited in private economies, such as agriculture, domestic work, construction and manufacturing.”

“The sheer numbers of people who are victims of forced labor exploitation around the world should alarm not only governments here and abroad, but also, among industry leaders and civil society groups," Ople said.

Ople noted that more people who are mired in abject poverty are lured to leave the country and find work abroad where they often fall victims to labor exploitation akin to slavery.

Organized by the Ople Center and LBS Recruitment Solutions, the dialogue will also present updates from government officials assessing the country's ability to create a framework combating local cases of human trafficking.

“We have called in government officials who are directly in charge of the government’s fight against human trafficking to help us assess the impact of the ASEAN economic integration which is set to commence this year,” Ople said.

Religious leaders have joined Pope Francis in his call to end modern slavery by 2020, leading a declaration calling human trafficking, forced labor, prostitution, and organ trafficking "a crime against humanity.” —Rie Takumi/KBK, GMA News
 

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