Press Release
15 October 2012
Recruiters' group proposal to ban ‘illiterates’ for Saudi domestic jobs: ‘Absurd,
futile band-aid solution’
Stop forced migration. Create Jobs at home. (Migrante file photo)
Thus, said today by the
Filipino migrants rights group Migrante-Middle East (M-ME) in reaction to the
proposal put forward by the Philippine Association of Service Exporters, Inc.
(PASEI) to the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) to ban ‘illiterate’
maids in working to Saudi Arabia.
“PASEI proposal is not
only illogical but would left no option at all to what it called ‘illiterates’,
amid the economic hardship hitting hard the poor ‘illiterates’ in the
Philippines,” said
John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator.
He added that the poor ‘illiterates’
need training and support programs instead of being excluded.
“I doubt if PASEI-member
recruiters are providing or willing to train, without cost, their recruits
prior to their deployment,” Monterona added.
He cited, for instance, in
the implementation of the recently inked new standard contract for Household
Service workers (HSWs) between the Philippines and Saudi Arabia, the Philippine-based
recruiters, including PASEI, performs vital role in the monitoring aspect.
“Philippine recruiters must see to it that their deployed workers are
receiving rightful wages, being treated well by their employers, with good
living accommodation, and are not subjected to various labor malpractices and
abuses,” Monterona
adding that PH recruiters are mandated by law (RA10022) to look after their
deployed workers.
“Let us say, even if the
intention of the new standard contract is ‘good’ but if it’s not honestly implemented,
then it will defeat its purpose,” Monterona averred.
Monterona
added that PASEI recruiters failed to recognize the root causes why, in the
first place, millions of unemployed and underemployed Filipinos are forced to
leave the country to work or look for jobs abroad.
“Band-aid solutions have
been proven useless given the huge negative effect of forced migration
phenomenon to overseas Filipino workers and families, and the society at large,” Monterona ended. # # #
Stop forced migration!
Create jobs at home!
Reference:
John Leonard Monterona
Migrante-Middle East
regional coordinator
Mobile No. 00974 33
205565
John, the Filipino diaspora started in the mid-70s. After several changes in administration, the movement to get out to seek greener pastures continues unabated. Do you really believe we can create jobs in the country as fast as we grow mushrooms? Madaling sabihin to stop forced migration and create jobs at home but how? Eh tayong mga pinoy mismo mahilig sa imported products kaya papaano lalago ang manufacturing industries sa atin? Many multinationals (manufacturing)have closed shop and relocated elsewhere due to high tax incentives and cheaper cost of labor. Soon, Vietnam will overtake us thanks to their cheap labor. Baka magkaroon din ng branch sa Vietnam ang MIgrante in the future kasi kailangan na nila mag import ng mga nurses, engineers, other skilled workers plus DH. Kasi sila, busal ang bibig at di makapagreklamo kahit mababa ang sueldo dahil sa sistema ng gobyerno nila unlike sa Pinas na bawat kibot eh kilos protesta o walang katapusang reklamo. Look at china. It is still paying its locals cheap salaries but many of the classes E&D have become middle class already due to their unprecedented economic growth. Soon, china will be a power house and its people empowered. Simple lang. Kasi pinalago nila muna ang kanilang GDP at the expense of their people knowing that when the economy takes off, the people as a result will improve economically.
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