DUE TO the shortage of decent jobs in the country and the lack of sufficient livelihood assistance, Filipino migrants (read: overseas Filipino workers) fear going back to the Philippines.
Repatriation is not only about return but also sustaining the needs of the family. This is now the challenge that repatriated seafarers and land-based workers have to address while facing the inadequate assistance and relief from the government in this time of COVID-19 pandemic.
This is the same condition for Filipino migrants caught by the lockdown while in the Philippines. It was reported that Japan cancelled 30,000 approved visas already. Hong Kong has called for the voluntary decision of employers to continue employment later of those who were not able to come and start their work. On top of the daily struggle for survival during the lockdown, they also now have to find ways to repay debts incurred to have their work processed.
With these problems, what has the Philippine government done?
In a joint statement, overseas Filipino organizations in Asia-Pacific seek the following:
* a comprehensive plan to urgently respond to OFWs’ worsening conditions in health, livelihood and lives both abroad and for their families back home
* ensure uninterrupted services to all Filipinos by all Philippine overseas posts especially during these times of the COVID-19 crisis
* provide Filipinos overseas with free masks, alcohol and hand sanitizers especially to workers at risk, undocumented and frontliners; conduct food relief drives to Filipinos abroad who lost economic means to survive
* financial assistance for all OFWs in need irrespective of visa status; free repatriation
* moratorium on monthly collection from OFWs; stop the premium increase and mandatory collection of PhilHealth and SSS to OFWs
* free processing of travel documents especially to undocumented workers, and those detained and in need of repatriation
* make representation to host governments to ensure protection of rights and provision of services to all migrants regardless of status
Are these things too much to ask? For the government, is the worth of Filipino migrants only as good as when they can send remittance, pay for multiple government fees, and stave off social unrest from the dire unemployment and poverty situation in the country?
While the government has always lauded its overseas workers as lifeline of the economy, OFWs are frequently left to their devices in times of crisis. This has to change.
