25/07/2024
Migrante International on Marcos Jr’s 3rd SONA:
Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has not secured “quality jobs” for our OFWs. In his extravagant international trips, Marcos has instead signed bilateral labor agreements to deploy an increasing number of Filipinos into contractual, low-wage jobs.
To maintain the profitable big business of cheap Filipino labor export, the Marcos Jr. regime is covering up and downplaying the worsening conditions of OFWs and Filipino workers abroad. In increasing numbers, they are becoming victims of labor exploitation, human trafficking, illegal recruitment, violence, discrimination, unjust arrest, detention and deportation.
The over 2.3 million OFWs leaving the country annually demonstrates that BBM has not implemented effective measures to address the worsening livelihood crises in the Philippines, forcing millions to leave their families and be displaced from their communities in search of work.
Business is running as usual for the Marcos Jr. regime as they deny OFWs full justice, protection, and assistance, abandoning them as their rights are being violated in their millions. Marcos Jr. failed to mention that thousands of Saudi OFWs from medium and small companies displaced during the 2015 crisis have been left out of the diplomatic talks with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. BBM did not assert the billions in unpaid wages and end of service benefits in the talks. Where is the justice for them?
The building of an OFW Lounge and a Seafarers Hub is far removed from the long standing demands of our migrant workers and are only superficial and cosmetic projects that do not truly address the issues facing our OFWs.
Marcos Jr.’s promises of faster services and protection for our “economic heroes” ring hollow. Government services for OFWs remain slow, limited and inaccessible. He is a coward for failing to appeal for clemency and freedom for human trafficking victim Mary Jane Veloso, who has been on death row in Indonesia for 14 years.
The hundreds of New Zealand OFWs who were displaced from their jobs in December 2023 only received aid from the Philippine government as a result of the collective assertion and action of the workers, migrant organizations and local unions who were dismayed by the snail-pace government response.
Thousands more OFWs are being displaced whether by war and conflict, economic crisis and anti-migrant policies. Marcos Jr. is lying when he proclaims that he has a plan to provide long-term decent jobs for OFWs back in the Philippines. In reality, most of them are left to fend for themselves, just as what was experienced by hundreds of Filipino Palestinians repatriated last year.
And how dare BBM boast about the passage of a UN Resolution on the Human Rights of Seafarers as his own accomplishment? His government has yet to pass a genuine Magna Carta for Seafarers Bill that will ensure job security and access to protection for more than 700,000 of our seafarers.
Filipinos overseas are growing sick and tired of the lies of the Marcos Jr. regime. They are disgusted by the feuds between the Marcos and Duterte cliques over the spoils of government plunder. This SONA of lies and political squabbles has done nothing for the rights and welfare of OFWs and Filipinos overseas, let alone the broader aspirations of the Filipino people for land, better wages, jobs, and rights.
Reference:
Joanna Concepcion, Chairperson
