Neglected sector

During this season of joy, merrymaking, parties and family reunions, a special group of Filipinos deserves our greater attention and extreme admiration. These are our overseas workers who are permanently, temporarily or irregularly based in over 197 countries throughout the world. According to rough estimates they number over 10 million already but the documented ones are just about 10% to 15%, with more than a million of them land-based while the rest are seafarers.

Topping the list of land based OFWs, are still the domestic helpers who are officially and more exaltedly denominated as household workers, followed by factory workers, construction workers, hotel and restaurant workers, nurses, caregivers and medical related workers. Their favorite destinations are Saudi Arabia in the Middle East, Hong Kong in Asia and Italy and UK in Europe. The favorite vessels of Filipino seafarers on the other hand are those with the flag registries of Panama and the Bahamas.

At this time of the year, the peso usually gets stronger because of the surge of dollar remittances from our OFWs. Statistics about a year ago show that their remittances have already reached the staggering amount of US$3 billion which will more likely be maintained or even exceeded this year. This is undeniably a big boost to our economy and the strength of our currency.

During this holiday season our airports are also unusually clogged with balikbayans coming home to their loved ones bringing their dollars instead of merely sending them back. This is really the most appropriate time for them to be reunited and relive the happy memories when they were together during Christmas. The welcome scenes at the airports should really tug the grateful hearts of every Filipino. This nation really owes a big debt of gratitude to the OFWs and their families.

Even if the objective of our OFWs in leaving the country is mainly to improve the lives of their own families, it is apparent that they would rather stay home with their loved ones if they have a choice because of the indescribable pain of separation. This is vividly depicted in those arrival scenes at the country’s ports of entry. Leaving their families is indeed a supreme sacrifice. But the greater sacrifice here is not only bearing the pain of separation from loved ones. It is the extreme humiliation they suffer in their new jobs abroad. So many teachers and even school administrators leave their jobs here and accept employment as domestic helpers in other countries just to earn more. Some of them even suffer inhuman treatments from their employers. Others, especially the uneducated Pinays, are even abused and driven to kill or commit suicide.

But the inestimable damage is inflicted on their families left behind. The forced migration of so many of our countrymen has undoubtedly broken many families, emotionally, psychologically and socially. Family life without a mother or a father is definitely detrimental to every member. The damage is as irreparable as the economic gains not only of the families but of the entire country are clearly quantifiable.

The sad part here is that the country’s debt of gratitude to the OFWs and their families is not being commensurately repaid. So many OFWs repatriated and dismissed because of work related injuries resulting in permanent or partial disabilities do not get the proper compensation they deserve. Some of them have to endure expensive and time consuming court litigations to recover their benefits. And the worse part here is that after enduring the protracted litigations, and winning the case, they still end up empty handed because the employer or their agents or the insurers have either disappeared or gone bankrupt. Government records are replete with cases of seamen’s widows still trying to recover the judgments awarded to them after more than ten years of litigation but could not get anything anymore because employers and their agents have managed to put up barriers during the long period of litigation.

Government has to do something more than pay lip service to our OFWs with its repeated accolade that they are our modern day heroes. It should systematize and rationalize the OFW assistance programs. Last year, reports came out that the overseas workers fund (OWWA Fund) raised through collection from OFWs of $25 per contract as membership dues already amounted to a huge P8 billion. The use of these funds must be rationalized for the real benefit of the OFWs.

To be sure, there was already a previous suggestion to create a separate Cabinet department just to take care of the OFW concerns both in their places of work and in this country where they left their families behind. The various functions of the different government agencies should be consolidated and centralized into this department. An ad hoc task force is not sufficient for this purpose. Our legislators must realize that this sector in our society may be contributing a lot more to our country’s economic progress than they do. So it is about time they should pass a law for the benefit of these modern day heroes who are apparently neglected and marginalized.

Note: Books containing compilation of my articles on Labor Law and Criminal Law (Vols. I and II) are now available. Call tel. 7249445.

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