PGMA calls for protection of migrant workers amid financial, economic turmoil
Handbook on Migrant Workers
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo called today for concerted efforts to protect expatriate workers all over the world against exploitation, abuse and other forms of ill-treatment stemming from the global economic and financial shocks.
In her address during the opening session of the 2nd Global Forum on Migration and Development at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), Pasay City this morning (Wednesday, Oct. 29), the President said it is unfortunate that some countries that send their people to work abroad are not fully equipped to protect them in times of trouble.
She said the financial and economic turmoil sweeping across the world has raised new concern over the protection and wellbeing of expatriate workers.
The global financial crisis currently taking place challenges us again to gather our forces, within government and in partnership with other countries, to better protect our people abroad against the financial and economic shocks, business and economic, and the side effects of such shocks exploitation, abuses, and other forms of maltreatment, she said.
The President thanked United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon for the attention he is giving to the worlds poor especially in this time of financial crisis.
The UN official arrived in Manila Tuesday to address the migration and development forum.
She said countries can draw encouragement from the fact that the UN, civil society, governments and international organizations are increasingly giving emphasis on the various aspects of migration.
Saying that the Philippines is ready to champion the cause of migrant workers, the President pointed out that the country has won the distinction as one of the best-regulated expatriate worker programs in the world.
On the basis of their contribution and of the nations humanitarian responsibilities to its people, wherever they are, our government works doubly hard to strengthen migrant workers protection protection from the degradation of domestic recruiters as well as of overseas employers, agents and officials, and protection from physical harm, she added.
She said that her administrations comprehensive and multi-dimensional life-cycle strategy covers all facets of the overseas employment process, from pre-departure orientation to post-return reintegration and retraining.
The effectiveness of this approach of ensuring the protection of Filipino overseas workers (OFWs) has been acknowledged by international organizations, the President said.
She stressed, however, that the full protection and empowerment of migrants is a task that goes far beyond what individual countries of origin can do on their own.
The President said the Philippines is honored to be the first developing country and the first Asian nation to host the Global Forum on Migration and Development.
For the Philippines, which is at the forefront of the global migration issue, hosting this meeting represents a high point in our efforts to assist migrants through intensified global dialogue and networks for consultation and cooperation, she said.
She congratulated the leaders of the migrant-workers- sending and receiving nations for seeking common grounds on coordinating assistance to their economies and protecting their workers.
It is essential that the major economies of the world along with the strong representation from emerging economies who are the source of migrant workers be part of the global consultations to resolve challenges in the global financial system and its impact on migrant workers, the President said.
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