More on mitigating OFWs’ woes
This column is an offshoot of the two-part commentary on the problems besetting our OFWs in the Middle East with a focus on Saudi Arabia. The theme was how to mitigate the problems of overseas Filipino workers.
The commentary drew many reactions which confirmed the observations made by Labor Attaché Fidel Macauyag in a well-discussed exposition. Recall that Macauyag described the problems in detail and suggested measures on how to at least ease the burdens of the OFWs, if not solve them.
One of the comments this column received via email came from Dr. Tomara Ayo, an author and acknowledged authority on Shariah law who has a doctorate degree in the discipline. Dr. Ayo is himself a frontline observer, having been a diplomat assigned to Middle East countries like Saudi Arabia. Possessed with in-depth knowledge of the problems, he was gracious enough to share his experiences and thoughts on the issues we raised earlier. (On a personal note, one of my prized possessions razed and lost during the 2017 Marawi Siege was a book authored by Dr. Ayo which I had used extensively as a reference when writing about subjects about Islamic laws and practices).
In sum, Dr. Ayo agreed with the observation of Macauyag that one of the causes of the problems of the OFWs is the feeble legal assistance extended to them. The pre-departure training that Case Officers or Cos undergo at the Department of Foreign Affairs is not enough to equip them with the knowledge necessary to challenge the injustices done to OFWs. They are not equal to the heavy task of protecting the OFWs in legal matters mainly because the office is either undermanned and underfunded or the officers are not sufficiently trained to deal with the peculiar political and legal systems of the host countries.
The default action of our embassies when a case is filed in the Shariah Court involving OFWs is to hire a local Arab lawyer to defend them. The lawyer invariably charges an exorbitant fee that our government can hardly afford. It was suggested by LabAtt Macauyag that our government could impose additional fees on the OFWs’ recruiters to help pay the fees of the Arab lawyers.
He noted that Filipino Muslims now have a deep bench of lawyers who not only passed the bar exams but also the Shariah Bar Examinations conducted by the Supreme Court. With proper motivation, attractive salaries, and fringe benefits they could be hired as COs. Their advantage is their knowledge of the Shariah, Filipino culture, and the idiosyncrasies of OFWs which could be a factor in defending or prosecuting their cases. The Department of Migrant Workers should look into this.
Dr. Ayo likewise suggested that we take a second look at our government’s “revolving door” policy about COs. This limits the length of their duty. He correctly pointed out that cultivating goodwill and understanding with their Arab counterparts takes time.
Just when they had succeeded in establishing a good relationship and connections in the right offices in the Middle East, these COs are recalled to the home office. Our government then trains another batch of COs to replace them. And the cycle goes on. We can perhaps make an exception for the COs. This column agrees this policy needs revisiting and adjusting if necessary to keep abreast of the vicissitudes of time and circumstance.
This column hopes the DMW will take a fresh look at these suggestions. There may be other solutions still unexplored. As our modern heroes, the OFWs deserve no less than serious attention from the government.
Our migrant workers are laboring like slaves in the punishing humid atmosphere of the desert lands because our government has no jobs for them.
The least we can do is exhaust all avenues to ease their burdens.
“As
our modern heroes, the OFWs deserve no less than serious attention from the government.
“The
predeparture training that Case Officers or Cos undergo at the Department of Foreign Affairs is not enough to equip them with the knowledge necessary to challenge the injustices done to OFWs.