Pinoys in HK oppose suspension of issuance of OECs


Filipino workers in Hong Kong held a rally at the Philippine Consulate on Wednesday to protest Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III's order to suspend the issuance of the overseas employment certificates (OECs).
United Filipinos in Hong Kong said the suspension of the issuance of OECs was actually a suspension of the deployment of Filipinos to work overseas.

In a statement, UNIFIL-MIGRANTE-HK said the suspension "is not going to solve widespread and systemic illegal recruitment and will only deprive income and livelihood of the more than 75,000 would-be overseas Filipino workers."
The group, in another statement, also said the Philippine government should compensate affected OFWs for loss of jobs and income.
"It is the third day since the suspension order took effect and already, an estimated 210 Hong Kong-bound OFWs were unable to leave the Philippines," said Dolores Balladares-Pelaez, chairperson of the UNIFIL-MIGRANTE-HK.
The group said instead of suspending the issuance of OECs, Bello should make good on his promise to abolish OECs.
"Instead of punishing the corrupt, the DOLE Order is punishing innocent OFWs. This government must pay for all the expenses incurred by affected OFWs," Balladares-Pelaez said.
"They must be compensated for every single cent they lose. And they must get compensation for the loss of potential income and employment," she added.
Bello announced last week that the government will suspend the acceptance and processing of OECs for 15 working days, or from November 13 to December 1.
The departure of an estimated 75,000 would-be OFWs will be put on hold during this period as DOLE launches an investigation to "cleanse" the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA) of employees benefiting from illegal recruitment.
At the end of the 15 day period, the suspension may be subject to extension as circumstances may require.
Bello said the newest temporary suspension was due to the persistent reports that 80 to 90 percent of direct hires are victims of illegal recruitment and that some POEA employees earn as much as P250,000 by issuing OECs to illegal recruiters. —KBK, GMA News

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