Protection of migrant workers
Goodwill is the determinant factor as to whether the recently concluded 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit was a success or not. It took 10 years of negotiation before an Asean consensus for the protection and promotion of the rights of migrant workers was signed by our Asean leaders. The question now is: “Will it have teeth?”
So much pain and suffering in the hands of abusive employers abroad made the life of some overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) a nightmare. Modern-day slavery tramples on human rights, accosts the dignity of our migrant workers whose cash remittances, by the way, amount to billions of pesos.
A fellow passenger on a flight to Hong Kong, who was a domestic helper (DH) on her way back to work, confided questionable terms and conditions being illegally imposed on a migrant worker. Her employer would readily hold her passport and cellphone as soon as she goes back to work from her quick vacation. She said this is normal practice in most countries in Asia and the Middle East. DHs are the most abused. Well, with the newly signed consensus, penalties will be imposed once the accord is ratified by the member country.
A DH I came to know was allegedly raped by her employer. The traumatic experience has gravely affected her intimacy with her husband. The Overseas Work- ers Welfare Administration (OWWA) should be able to provide psychological assistance for this kind of cases. Sexual harassment, which was likewise a common complaint against employers by domestic helpers, is punishable under the consensus. There were several cases in the past whereby the perpetrators were not charged and punished. Filipino complainants were conveniently sent home.
In worst scenarios, some Filipino workers end up dead. Were they murdered, or did they commit suicide? We might never know the truth. A number got jailed for trumped-up charges.
There were even reported instances wherein the Philippine Consulate’s employees were in cahoots with abusive employers abroad. Our migrant workers continue to be in a pathetic situation at the mercy of their employers. Employers who pour hot water on their domestic helpers should suffer the consequences of this inhuman act.
Success of the 31st Asean Summit cannot be measured by the mere attendance of its member nations and the consensus penned. World leaders must show goodwill.
In my opinion, accord or no accord, mercy and compassion are expected from any civilized society. Moving forward, can these nations finally guarantee the protection of our OFWs?