MANILA, Philippines - Filipino sailors on foreign ocean-going vessels wired home a total of $888.949 million in the first quarter, up 11.04 percent or $88.414 million from the $800.535 million they remitted over the same three-month period in 2009, the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) reported Sunday.
TUCP secretary-general and former Senator Ernesto Herrera said the 11.04 percent growth in the money sent home by sailors was nearly double the 5.96 percent increase in the cash remitted by land-based migrant Filipino workers in the first quarter.
"We remain bullish overall about the potential growth in remittances from Filipino sailors in the months ahead," said Herrera, former chairman of the Senate committee on labor, employment and human resources development.
"However, we are also deeply worried about Greece's lingering debt crisis, which could depress economic conditions as well as shipping activity in Europe," added Herrera, whose labor center includes the Philippine Seafarers' Union.
Of the 10 biggest sources of remittances from Filipino sailors, six are European countries, Herrera pointed out.
The top 10 sources of Filipino sailors' remittances are the United States, Japan, Norway, Germany, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Greece, the Netherlands, Hong Kong, and Cyprus, according to Herrera.
Remittances from Filipino sailors based in Greece were still up 18 percent in the first quarter to $34.7 million versus $29.3 million a year ago.
However, Herrera also noted that remittances from Filipino sailors based in Norway, the Netherlands, Cyprus, Denmark, Ireland and Sweden were actually down an average of 20.81 percent.
Last week, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas reported that total remittances from all migrant Filipino workers, whether based on land or at sea, reached $4.339 billion in the first quarter, up 6.96 percent from $4.057 billion over the same period in 2009.
In 2009, Filipino sailors sent home a record $3.4 billion, up $366 million or 12.06 percent from $3.034 billion in 2008. Remittances from Filipino sailors have more than doubled since 2005, when they sent home only $1.669 billion.
Showing posts with label OFWs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label OFWs. Show all posts
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Pinoy sailors sent home $888M in 1Q
Tuesday, April 06, 2010
Ahon Pinoy gets huge support in Mindanao
DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / April 6, 2010) - The party list group Ahon Pinoy (Ahon) continues to draw huge support in Mindanao, many from families and relatives of overseas Filipino workers and civil groups and different organizations advocating good governance and peace and progress.
Ahon Pinoy is strongly advocating for the rights and welfare of the Overseas Filipino Workers of OFWs; Small and Medium Scale training for overseas workers, good government and new politics. "We will campaign for Ahon Pinoy because it is for the welfare of all OFWs," said Ben San Diego, whose father works in the Middle East the past 5 years.
Ahon Pinoy recently submitted its list of nominees to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for accreditation and enrollment.The list includes Dante Francis Ang 2nd, of Las Piñas City (Metro Manila); Emerito Remulla of Cavite; Von Bryan Cuerpo of Rodriguez (Montalban), Rizal; Efren Villaseñor of Lopez, Quezon; and Fundador Soriano of Pangasinan.
They will represent Ahon in the House of Representatives and public forums in the next three years should the party-list group win in the May 10 elections.
Ahon said in a statement that it speaks for the rights and welfare of overseas Filipino workers and their families as well as organizations of expatriates and immigrants.
Its legislative agenda includes: expansion of the study-now, pay-later education program to benefit more poor, deserving youth; low-cost housing; health care assistance; return of the coconut levy fund to the farmer beneficiaries; collateral-free loans to help create and launch small businesses; and “good governance.”
Ahon’s campaign also stresses the role of the part-list system in developing and educating the electorate on correct and intelligent voting on election day. (Mark Navales contributed to this report)
Ahon Pinoy is strongly advocating for the rights and welfare of the Overseas Filipino Workers of OFWs; Small and Medium Scale training for overseas workers, good government and new politics. "We will campaign for Ahon Pinoy because it is for the welfare of all OFWs," said Ben San Diego, whose father works in the Middle East the past 5 years.
Ahon Pinoy recently submitted its list of nominees to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for accreditation and enrollment.The list includes Dante Francis Ang 2nd, of Las Piñas City (Metro Manila); Emerito Remulla of Cavite; Von Bryan Cuerpo of Rodriguez (Montalban), Rizal; Efren Villaseñor of Lopez, Quezon; and Fundador Soriano of Pangasinan.
They will represent Ahon in the House of Representatives and public forums in the next three years should the party-list group win in the May 10 elections.
Ahon said in a statement that it speaks for the rights and welfare of overseas Filipino workers and their families as well as organizations of expatriates and immigrants.
Its legislative agenda includes: expansion of the study-now, pay-later education program to benefit more poor, deserving youth; low-cost housing; health care assistance; return of the coconut levy fund to the farmer beneficiaries; collateral-free loans to help create and launch small businesses; and “good governance.”
Ahon’s campaign also stresses the role of the part-list system in developing and educating the electorate on correct and intelligent voting on election day. (Mark Navales contributed to this report)
Sunday, November 04, 2007
Filipinos Stop Money Transfers: XPRESS
DUBAI - Filipino expatriates are planning to withhold money transfers to the Philippines from today until Monday (November 5) in a bid to push up the value of the US dollar by creating a temporary shortage of the greenback.
The campaign, which started in Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi, has snowballed throughout the Middle East and is said to have received a "positive response" in areas with a high concentration of Filipino workers such as the US, Canada, Italy, Japan, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, said Dick Orense, a Filipino community leader in Abu Dhabi.
"We don’t intend to sabotage the economy. We just want our voices to be heard," said Orense.
The idea to temporarily stop transfers as a means to raise the value of the greenback was bolstered by a paper written by an economist and published online early last month.
Cielito Habito, a former Philippine economic minister, said the country’s coffers were awash with dollars due to increased inflows of remittances from overseas Filipinos.
As of July, $8.1 billion (Dh29.7 billion) in remittances had already come in this year, a jump of 16 per cent from last year, he said.
Proponents of the boycott believe it would bring the dollar to the 50 peso (Dh4.2) level.
Bernie Cinco, a Filipino community leader in Abu Dhabi who works in Sharjah, suggested that remittances to the Philippines be sent through “unofficial channels”.
“This has a domino effect. The supposedly strong Philippine economy will surely be zapped once the dollar supply of banks gets depleted. Sending money through unofficial channels like door-to-door cargo forwarders would directly benefit our families and will not be subjected to bank charges,” he said.
Filipino expatriates had called for a special rate for overseas remittances as a stop-gap measure to the currency crisis.
Bankers, however, disagree. "A subsidy would bring us back to the subsidy era, which only created market and price distortions," said Amroussi Rasul, Vice-President and Middle East representative of Philippine National Bank.
On the other hand, overseas Filipinos couldn’t be blamed for taking drastic measures, he said.
“It’s a tight situation for those earning in dollars. The appreciation of the peso amounts to a virtual pay cut. They get much less at home for the same money they earn abroad,” Rasul told XPRESS.
An official of a leading money exchange company in the UAE debunked claims that the banking system will be put in disarray should remittances be sent through unofficial channels.
“Even if they remit money through door-to-door cargo firms instead of through money transfer agents, it’s the same story. Cargo companies also engage our services to send money in bulk,” said Carlos Serrano of Al Rostamani Exchange.
Ben Dumlao, a UAE-based Filipino expat, says the remittance boycott campaign is not a good idea.
“The depreciation of the US dollar has a domino effect worldwide. The purchasing power of the UAE dirham has gone down too. Prices of commodities and flat rentals are squeezing the budget of all expats in the UAE. We could not help but excruciatingly accept these facts,” he said.
Rasul meanwhile, said that whether this week’s planned money transfer stoppage would succeed or not, the Philippine government should attend to the problems besetting Filipinos overseas.
“We can’t belittle steps like this,” he said.
FORECAST:
Former Philippine economics minister Cielito has forecast a gloomy currency outlook as he sees the Philippine peso to strengthen to 40 pesos (Dh3.3) against the US dollar by yearend.
The peso-dollar rate is so far hovering at 43 pesos (Dh3.6).
The Philippine central bank has started buying the dollar in the currency market as the peso steadied near 43.98 per dollar and hit a seven-year high in Tuesday’s (Oct. 30) trading. Remittance inflows in 2006.
1. India - $24.5 billion2. Mexico - $24.2 billion3. China - $21 billion4. Philippines - $13.7 billion5. Russia - $13.7 billion.
(Source: UN Fund for Agricultural Development and Inter-American Development Bank) (Ares P. Gutierrez)
The campaign, which started in Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi, has snowballed throughout the Middle East and is said to have received a "positive response" in areas with a high concentration of Filipino workers such as the US, Canada, Italy, Japan, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, said Dick Orense, a Filipino community leader in Abu Dhabi.
"We don’t intend to sabotage the economy. We just want our voices to be heard," said Orense.
The idea to temporarily stop transfers as a means to raise the value of the greenback was bolstered by a paper written by an economist and published online early last month.
Cielito Habito, a former Philippine economic minister, said the country’s coffers were awash with dollars due to increased inflows of remittances from overseas Filipinos.
As of July, $8.1 billion (Dh29.7 billion) in remittances had already come in this year, a jump of 16 per cent from last year, he said.
Proponents of the boycott believe it would bring the dollar to the 50 peso (Dh4.2) level.
Bernie Cinco, a Filipino community leader in Abu Dhabi who works in Sharjah, suggested that remittances to the Philippines be sent through “unofficial channels”.
“This has a domino effect. The supposedly strong Philippine economy will surely be zapped once the dollar supply of banks gets depleted. Sending money through unofficial channels like door-to-door cargo forwarders would directly benefit our families and will not be subjected to bank charges,” he said.
Filipino expatriates had called for a special rate for overseas remittances as a stop-gap measure to the currency crisis.
Bankers, however, disagree. "A subsidy would bring us back to the subsidy era, which only created market and price distortions," said Amroussi Rasul, Vice-President and Middle East representative of Philippine National Bank.
On the other hand, overseas Filipinos couldn’t be blamed for taking drastic measures, he said.
“It’s a tight situation for those earning in dollars. The appreciation of the peso amounts to a virtual pay cut. They get much less at home for the same money they earn abroad,” Rasul told XPRESS.
An official of a leading money exchange company in the UAE debunked claims that the banking system will be put in disarray should remittances be sent through unofficial channels.
“Even if they remit money through door-to-door cargo firms instead of through money transfer agents, it’s the same story. Cargo companies also engage our services to send money in bulk,” said Carlos Serrano of Al Rostamani Exchange.
Ben Dumlao, a UAE-based Filipino expat, says the remittance boycott campaign is not a good idea.
“The depreciation of the US dollar has a domino effect worldwide. The purchasing power of the UAE dirham has gone down too. Prices of commodities and flat rentals are squeezing the budget of all expats in the UAE. We could not help but excruciatingly accept these facts,” he said.
Rasul meanwhile, said that whether this week’s planned money transfer stoppage would succeed or not, the Philippine government should attend to the problems besetting Filipinos overseas.
“We can’t belittle steps like this,” he said.
FORECAST:
Former Philippine economics minister Cielito has forecast a gloomy currency outlook as he sees the Philippine peso to strengthen to 40 pesos (Dh3.3) against the US dollar by yearend.
The peso-dollar rate is so far hovering at 43 pesos (Dh3.6).
The Philippine central bank has started buying the dollar in the currency market as the peso steadied near 43.98 per dollar and hit a seven-year high in Tuesday’s (Oct. 30) trading. Remittance inflows in 2006.
1. India - $24.5 billion2. Mexico - $24.2 billion3. China - $21 billion4. Philippines - $13.7 billion5. Russia - $13.7 billion.
(Source: UN Fund for Agricultural Development and Inter-American Development Bank) (Ares P. Gutierrez)
Sunday, July 29, 2007
TUCP Urges OFW To Save Pesos, Not Dollars
MANILA, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / 29 Jul) – The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines has urged overseas Filipino workers and their families to keep their savings in pesos, saying the local currency is bound to gain more strength against the American dollar in the months ahead.
"We are just looking out for OFWs and their families here. There is definitely less risk and greater potential reward in peso investments going forward," TUCP president Democrito Mendoza said in a statement sent Sunday to the Mindanao Examiner.
He said: "OFWs and their families here stand to lose more value for their money if they continue to stash whatever savings they have in dollars, or in dollar-denominated instruments."
Mendoza made the statement shortly after JP Morgan Chase & Co. told its clients to buy the Philippine peso, and the Development Bank of Singapore (DBS) predicted an even stronger-than-expected peso over the next 18 months.
The DBS said it now sees the peso closing at 44.50 versus the dollar by year's end, and 42.50 by the end of 2008.
Previously, the DBS saw the peso closing at 45.50 versus the dollar by year's end, and at 43 by the end of next year.
"There is no sense in keeping dollars now. This is not just about the peso getting basically stronger. This is more about the dollar itself getting fundamentally weaker versus most other currencies," Mendoza said.
"The government's improved financial position, massive OFW remittances as well as increased tourist spending and foreign investments here are all factors propping up the peso.”
“But worldwide, there is far greater supply of dollars now and much less demand. This is why the dollar is getting weaker," he said.
Mendoza, meanwhile, stressed the need for the government to push down remittance charges in order to help OFWs cope with the rising peso.
"This is one concrete way by which the government is in a position to intervene, in terms of creating a regulatory environment that will drive down excessive money transfer charges," he pointed out.
A previous study by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas showed that a typical $400 to $600- remittance from a US or a United Kingdom bank to a Philippine bank costs from $7.09 to $11.73. A $200-remittance from Hong Kong costs $3.11 to $7.45 per transaction.
Mendoza also said the TUCP would support the government's plan to float OFW bonds. "If the bonds will mean that OFWs will have ready access to higher-yielding investment instruments, then we are all for it," he said.
Since dropping to a low of 56.04 to a dollar in 2004, the peso has surged by more than 18 percent, closing at 45.72 versus the US currency on Friday.
"We are just looking out for OFWs and their families here. There is definitely less risk and greater potential reward in peso investments going forward," TUCP president Democrito Mendoza said in a statement sent Sunday to the Mindanao Examiner.
He said: "OFWs and their families here stand to lose more value for their money if they continue to stash whatever savings they have in dollars, or in dollar-denominated instruments."
Mendoza made the statement shortly after JP Morgan Chase & Co. told its clients to buy the Philippine peso, and the Development Bank of Singapore (DBS) predicted an even stronger-than-expected peso over the next 18 months.
The DBS said it now sees the peso closing at 44.50 versus the dollar by year's end, and 42.50 by the end of 2008.
Previously, the DBS saw the peso closing at 45.50 versus the dollar by year's end, and at 43 by the end of next year.
"There is no sense in keeping dollars now. This is not just about the peso getting basically stronger. This is more about the dollar itself getting fundamentally weaker versus most other currencies," Mendoza said.
"The government's improved financial position, massive OFW remittances as well as increased tourist spending and foreign investments here are all factors propping up the peso.”
“But worldwide, there is far greater supply of dollars now and much less demand. This is why the dollar is getting weaker," he said.
Mendoza, meanwhile, stressed the need for the government to push down remittance charges in order to help OFWs cope with the rising peso.
"This is one concrete way by which the government is in a position to intervene, in terms of creating a regulatory environment that will drive down excessive money transfer charges," he pointed out.
A previous study by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas showed that a typical $400 to $600- remittance from a US or a United Kingdom bank to a Philippine bank costs from $7.09 to $11.73. A $200-remittance from Hong Kong costs $3.11 to $7.45 per transaction.
Mendoza also said the TUCP would support the government's plan to float OFW bonds. "If the bonds will mean that OFWs will have ready access to higher-yielding investment instruments, then we are all for it," he said.
Since dropping to a low of 56.04 to a dollar in 2004, the peso has surged by more than 18 percent, closing at 45.72 versus the US currency on Friday.
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Panaghiusa Ug Kalambuan Sa Pilipinas Ihatud Sa Kalahi Party List
Matud ni Kalahi party list second nominee Atty. Karlo Nograles ang panaghiusa sa mga Pilipino pinaagi sa mga nindot proyekto sa barangays sa Pilipinas ang tinguhaon sa ilahang grupo.
DAVAO CITY - Ang panaghiusa sa mga Pilipino ug ang paghatag ug kalambuan sa mga barangays sa Pilipinas ang duha sa mga proyektong pagahimuon sa Kalahi partylist kung kini magmadaugon sa umaabot nga Mayo 14 nga eleksiyon.
Matud sa abogado sa Kalahi nga si Atty. Karlo Nograles ang ilahang grupo dili lamang nakasentro sa pagmugna ug balaod para proteksiyunan ug hatagan ug maayong kinabuh ang mga Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) kung dili ihiusa ang tinubok nasud pina-agi sa pagmugna ug proyekto nga makatabang sa mga residente sa tulo ka dakung isla sa Pilipinas ang Luzon, Visayas ug Mindanao.
"Bisaya, Muslim o Ilokano ka man ang Kalahi para natong tanan," sulti ni Nograles.
Aron ipakita ang pagkasensero sa Kalahi sa nga hatagan ug kalinaw ug kalambuan ang atong gimahal nga Pilipinas ang tulo ka mga nominado niini gagikan dyud sa Luzon, Visayas ug Mindanao.
Para hatagan ug kalambuan ang isla sa Luzon naghugpong ang mga miyembro ug opisyales sa Kalahi para pilion si Poe Gratela, isip unang nominado sa grupo.
Si Gratela kanhing opisyal sa militanteng grupo nga Migrante nga niresign sa grupo para mugnaon ang Kalahi partylist niadtong tuig 2005.
Gimugna ni Gratela ang Kalahi para mahatagan ug proteksiyon ug maayong kinabuhi ang mga OFWs nga wala nahatag sa iyahang kanhi nga grupong Migrante.
Ikaduhang nominado sa Kalahi nga nagarepresentar sa Mindanao si Nograles.
Ang anak ni House majority floorleader Prospero Nograles ang magdala sa tingog dili lamang sa mga OFWs kung dili pati nasad sa mga taga Mindanao kay siya usa man ka Minadanawan nga gianak sa Davao City.
Gidawat ni Nograles ang hagit nga mamahimong ikaduhang nominee sa Kalahi dili lamang para magmugna ug balaod nga magprotektar og promotar sa OFWs kung dili para hatagan sad ug mga nindot nga proyekto ang mga taga Mindanao.
Gibutyag ni Nograles nga kulang dyud ug mga proyekto ang mga barangays sa Mindanao kay kulang man sad ang mga kongresista ug senador nga gikan sa Mindanao.
"Botohi ninyo ang Kalahi para madungagan sad nato ang mga kongresistang gikan sa Mindanao," hangyo ni Nograles.
Gipromisar ni Nograles nga kung mahatagan siya ug higayon nga makasulod sa Kongreso isip ikaduhang representante sa Kalahi iyahang gamiton ang countrywide development fund (CDF) o pork barrel niya para sa magmugna ug maayong mga proyekto para sa taga Mindanao.
Ilan sa mga proyektong pagahimuon sa Kalahi mao ang libreng edukasyon ug scholarships sa mga kabus, ang pagpatukod ug mga schoo buildings sa mga kabus nga barangays sa Mindanao ug ang paglunsad ug livelihood ug skills seminar para sa mga walay trabaho.
"Magpahulam sad ug kuwarta ang Kalahi sa mga gagmay nga mga negosyante aron naa silay ikapital sa ilahang negosyo," matud ni Nograles.
Para sa mga taga Visayas si Luisito Clavano ang ikatulong nominado sa Kalahi nga gikan sa Cebu.
Gisulti ni Nograles nga sama nila ni Gratela pagahimuon sad ni Clavano ang tanan niyang takus para hatagan ug maayong kinabuhi ang nga barangays sa Visayas.
Para siguradohong mahatagan ug kalambuan ang mga taga Luzon, Visayas ug Mindanao gihangyo ni Nograles ang mga Pilipino nga maghugpong ug ibutar ang Kalahi kay ang ilahang partylist ang partilist natong tanang Pilipino.
"Kalahi ang partylist natong tanang labi natang mga taga Mindanao atong ipakita ang atong tingog sa tibuok nasud pinaagi sa pagbutar sa Kalahi," hangyo ni Nograles.
"Kini nga ang tukamang higayon nga hatagan nato ang mga OFWs ug kabus sa Pilipinas ug tingog sa Kongreso," dungag ni Nograles. (Romy Bwaga)
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Magandang Buhay Para Sa OFWs At Mindanaoan, Pangako Ng KALAHI Party List Group!
Ang abogadong si Karlo Nograles, ng KALAHI party list, habang nagpapaliwanag sa isang forum sa Mindanao. May bitbit na pangako ang KALAHI party list para sa lahat ng OFWs at Mindanaoan kung mahahalal sa May 14 elections. Malakas ang KALAHI party list group sa Mindanao dahil sa magagandang programa nito.DAVAO CITY – Matapos ng masaklap na nangyari kay Pinay domestic helper Flor Contemplacion na binitay sa Singapore noong Marso 17,1995 -- binuo ng mga Overseas Filipino Workers at ng kanilang pamilya ang party list group na KALAHI -- upang mabigyan ng sapat na proteksyon ang bawat Pilipinong OFW at pangako ng magandang buhay.
Si Contemplacion ay inakusahang pumatay sa kapwa Pinay helper na si Delia Maga at sa alaga nitong tatlong-taong gulang na Singaporean na si Nicholas Huang noong Mayo 14, 1991.
Ayon sa abogado ng KALAHI na si Karlo Nograles, ang nangyaring kawalang hustisya kay Contemplacion at iba pang inabusong OFWs ang nagbigay daan para mabuo ang nasabing party list noong 2005.
Matatandaang sa kabila ng deklarasyong inosente sa kamatayan ni Maga at ng bata si Contemplacion ay hinatulan pa rin itong mabitay.
Ibinalitang ang ama ng batang si Nicholas ang diumano’y siyang kumitil sa buhay ni Maga matapos na aksidenteng malunod ang bata sa loob ng banyo ng kanilang bahay.
Sinabi ni Nograles – ang ikalawang nominee ng KALAHI party list sa darating na Mayo 14 elections – na naniniwala ang kanyang grupo na kailangang bigyan ng tinig ang mga OFWs sa Kongreso upang malaman ng bayan ang kanilang kalagayan at makapagpasa ng batas na magbibigay ng proteksyon at magpapaunlad sa buhay ng tinatayang 10 milyong OFWs sa buong mundo.
"Simula na maging batas ang paghalal sa party list ay hindi pa talaga nabigyan ng tinig sa Kongreso ang mga OFWs at ngayon ang tamang panahon upang bigyan ng katuparan ang kahilingang ng bawat OFWs na magkaroon ng kinatawan sa kapulungan," pahayag ni Nograles, anak ni Rep. Prospero Nograles, ang majority floor leader sa House.
”Bilang ganti sa milyon-milyong pera na ibinibigay ng OFWs sa kaban ng bayan, ito ang tamang panahon na bigyan sila ng sapat na atensiyon at proteksyon sa pamamagitan ng paghalal ng kanilang kinatawan sa Kongreso na siyang gagawa ng batas na angkop sa mga OFWs na tinaguriang ang bagong bayani ng bansa,” dagdag pa ni Nograles.
Sinabi nito na isa sa mga batas na ipapasa ng KALAHI party list kapag ito ay nahalal sa darating na eleksyon ay ang pagbuo ng mga legal attache offices sa mga bansang may mga OFWs.
Ang legal attache offices ay sadyang mahalaga ayon kay Nograles dahil ito ang magbibigay ng abogado sa mga Pilipino kung sila ay nahaharap sa legal na usapin at kung kailangan nila ng payong legal kaugnay ng pang-aabusong kanilang mararanasan sa bansang pinagsisilbihan.
"Sa kasalukuyan ay wala talagang legal attache ang Pilipinas sa bawat bansa na siya sanang magtatanggol sa mga OFWs na nahaharap sa kaso at pang-aabuso," pahayag ni Nograles.
"Ang magtatanggol lamang sa OFWs sa kasalukuyan ay ang mga abogado ng embahada ng Pilipinas kung mayroon itong abogado, subali’t walang nakatokang abogado para asikasuhin lamang ang mga Pinoy na may kaso," dagdag ni Nograles.
Nanawagan naman si Nograles sa mga OFWs sa ibat-ibang sulok ng bansa at mundo na suportahan ang KALAHI party list sa darating na eleksyon upang maipatupad ang mga mahahalagang batas at programang laan sa bawat isa.
"Kapag nasa Kongreso na ang KALAHI party list ay hahabulin at parurusahan din natin ang mga tiwaling opisyal at empleyado ng gobyerno na hindi tumutugon sa mga pangangailangan ng OFWs," babala naman ng batang Nograles.”
Para maiwasan na mabiktima ng illegal recruiters ay magpapasa ng batas ang KALAHI party list na magbibigay ng malaking parusa sa mga taong nagsasamantala sa mga nagna-nais na mag trabaho sa abroad.
Sinabi ni Nograles na gagawa din ng paraan ang KALAHI party listi na mapagaan ang mga requirement sa may gustong mag-abroad para naman hindi mahihirapan at makatulong sa mga nais na maging OFW.
"Bibigyan din ng KALAHI party list ng financial asisstance at credit relief ang mga OFWs habang sila ay wala pang sahod upang may maitustos sa pangangailangan ng kanilang pamilya," ayon kay Nograles.
Magbibigay rin ng insurance program sa mga OFWs ang KALAHI party list, kasama na ang pension funds para sa mga retiradong OFWs.
"Kung may insurance na ang bawat OFWs ay may pera na ang kanilang pamilya kung sakali man na may masamang mangyari sa kanila sa bansang kanilang pinagtratrabahuhan," paliwanag pa ni Nograles.
Upang hindi naman maubos ang workforce ng bansa, nangako din ang KALAHI party list na magsasawa ng mga livelihood at entrepreneural trainings sa mga OFWs upang sa gayon ay makapagtayo ang mga ito ng sariling negosyo at tuluyang manatili sa Pilipinas kapiling ang kanilang pamilya.
"Kung gusto natin ng magandang buhay, iboto natin ang KALAHI party list para sa mga kapatid nating OFWs at sa buong Pilipinas dahil ang KALAHI party list ay binuo para sa ating lahat," wika ni Nograles. (Romy Bwaga)
Saturday, March 03, 2007
Gov't Urged To Junk POEA Guidelines For HSW
DAVAO CITY – The Gabriela Women's Party List group on Saturday urged the public to support its call for the scrapping of the new Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA) guidelines for Household Service Workers (HSW), which it said is a euphemized term for domestic helpers.
It said Filipinos working in Hong Kong were also protesting the new POEA guidelines and demanded the government to immediately scrap it.
The POEA guidelines for HSW are the following:
I. Newly hired HSWs[1] a) With visas issued prior to 16 December 2006, or processed under job orders registered with POEA prior to 16 December 2006, or processed under employment contracts that were verified by the concerned POLOs prior to 16 December 2006 shall be exempted from the following reform package:
• Minimum age of 23;
• Minimum entry salary of US$400;
• No – placement Fee policy; • TESDA NC2 Certificate; and
• Attendance to the OWWA Language and Culture Orientation;
Provided that these newly hired HSWs are processed at POEA before 1 March 2007.
b) With visas issued after 16 December 2006, or processed under job orders registered with POEA after 16 December 2006, or processed under employment contracts that were verified by the concerned POLOs after 16 December 2006 shall be covered by the following:
• Minimum age of 23;
• Minimum entry salary of US$400; • No – placement Fee policy;
• TESDA NC2 Certificate; and
• Attendance to the OWWA Language and Culture Orientation.
Newly hired HSWs shall exempted from the TESDA and OWWA requirements if bound for countries with prescribed skills training and language and culture orientation as conditions for visa issuance. The determination of the countries with such requirements shall be done by POEA.
II. Returning HSWs:a) Vacationing HSWs or those with existing overseas employment contracts executed prior to 1 March 2007 and are returning to their employer at anytime within the duration of their contract are exempted from the coverage of the following reforms: • Minimum age of 23;
• Minimum entry salary of US$400;
• TESDA NC2 Certificate; and
• Attendance to the OWWA Language and Culture Orientation.
The No-placement Fee policy does not apply to them since they are merely resuming their employment under an existing contract and are processed at the POEA without the participation of an agency.
b) HSWs who completed their overseas contracts within 2006 and thereafter, and are returning to the same or new employer with their OEC issued before 1 March 2007, are exempted from the following:
• Minimum age of 23; • Minimum entry salary of US$400; • Payment of placement fee, if hired thru an agency; • TESDA NC2 Certificate; and
• Attendance to the OWWA Language and Culture Orientation unless returning to a country with a different language and culture, as determined by OWWA.
c) HSWs who completed their overseas contracts before 2006 and are returning to the same or new employer with their OEC issued before 1 March 2007 are covered by the new minimum salary rate of US$400.
They are, however, exempted from the following:
• Minimum age requirement
• Payment of placement fee, if hired thru an agency
• TESDA NC2 requirement, unless required by their employer • OWWA Language and Culture Orientation unless returning to a country with a different language and culture, as determined by OWWA.
d) HSWs who completed their overseas employment contracts which were executed prior to 1 March 2007 and are being processed under a new contract with the same employer or new employer on or after 1 March 2007 are covered by the new minimum salary rate of US$400.
They are, however, exempted from the following:
• Minimum age requirement;
• Payment of placement fee, if hired thru an agency;
• TESDA NC2 requirement, unless required by their employer; and
• OWWA Language and Culture Orientation unless returning to a country with a different language and culture, as determined by OWWA.
e) HSWs who completed their employment contract before or after 2006 and are being processed under a new contract with the same or a new employer on or after 1 March 2007 are covered by the new minimum salary rate of US$400.
They are, however, exempted from the following:
• Minimum age requirement;
• Payment of placement fee, if hired thru an agency;
• TESDA NC2 requirement, unless required by their employer; and • OWWA Language and Culture Orientation unless returning to a country with a different language and culture, as determined by OWWA.
Last year, some $10.3 billion in overseas workers’ remittances were sent back home and it was 16.6 percent more than the previous year, according to Gabriela.
The group blamed President Gloria Arroyo for the hardship suffering of many overseas Filipino workers because of the new POEA guidelines.
"Mrs. Arroyo has been peddling our women, degrading them as mere commodities for her desperate efforts to fulfill her promise of 1.5 million jobs per year," Prof. Luz Ilagan, Gabriela second nominee, said in a statement sent to the Mindanao Examiner.
According to POEA data, women comprised majority of OFWs and since 1992, thepercentage of these women was equal to that of the men. In 2002, the percentage of women OFWs rose to 69 percent.
"Instead of approving the legislated wage hike or creating decent-paying jobs in the country, she opted to become the number one recruiter and exploiter of the women who are forced to work abroad despite the gnawing abuses awaiting them as well." Ilagan said.
In January, some 5,000 Filipino migrants workers in Hong Kong the new POEA guidelines on the deployment of domestic helpers.
Dolores Balladares, chairperson of the militant United Filipinos in Hong Kong (UNIFIL-MIGRANTE-HK), said that the protest action was just the first in the series of bigger ones that they are planning to organize to scrap the new prequalification measures of the POEA for Filipinos applying for domestic work abroad.
“Whenever the government is in dire need of money due to its bankrupt and corrupt economic policies, we are the ones who are made milking cows to fatten its coffers,” she said.
The protesters also held a program at Harcourt Garden, just below the building that houses the Philippine Consulate General, where they lambasted the POEA guidelines.
They also submitted a petition, signed by more than 130 organizations, that called for the scrapping of the new rules while also calling for genuine services to overseas Filipinos.
The protesters said new regulations are but mere “ploys for extortion”.
Under the said rules, applying domestic helpers must pass through several weeks of training to obtain the National Certificate for Household Service Workers, as the country-specific Language and Culture Certificate.
“Applicants are made to pay P1,500 (USD30) to P15,000 (USD300) for these so-called trainings. Even current OFWs are not spared as cases have been reported of them being refused to leave the Philippines if they fail to produce the said certificates,” Balladares said.
Balladares said that because of the nature of employment of current domestic helpers, “many of us, one way or another, will go back to the Philippines to have our papers processed.” (With reports from the Mindanao Examiner)
It said Filipinos working in Hong Kong were also protesting the new POEA guidelines and demanded the government to immediately scrap it.
The POEA guidelines for HSW are the following:
I. Newly hired HSWs[1] a) With visas issued prior to 16 December 2006, or processed under job orders registered with POEA prior to 16 December 2006, or processed under employment contracts that were verified by the concerned POLOs prior to 16 December 2006 shall be exempted from the following reform package:
• Minimum age of 23;
• Minimum entry salary of US$400;
• No – placement Fee policy; • TESDA NC2 Certificate; and
• Attendance to the OWWA Language and Culture Orientation;
Provided that these newly hired HSWs are processed at POEA before 1 March 2007.
b) With visas issued after 16 December 2006, or processed under job orders registered with POEA after 16 December 2006, or processed under employment contracts that were verified by the concerned POLOs after 16 December 2006 shall be covered by the following:
• Minimum age of 23;
• Minimum entry salary of US$400; • No – placement Fee policy;
• TESDA NC2 Certificate; and
• Attendance to the OWWA Language and Culture Orientation.
Newly hired HSWs shall exempted from the TESDA and OWWA requirements if bound for countries with prescribed skills training and language and culture orientation as conditions for visa issuance. The determination of the countries with such requirements shall be done by POEA.
II. Returning HSWs:a) Vacationing HSWs or those with existing overseas employment contracts executed prior to 1 March 2007 and are returning to their employer at anytime within the duration of their contract are exempted from the coverage of the following reforms: • Minimum age of 23;
• Minimum entry salary of US$400;
• TESDA NC2 Certificate; and
• Attendance to the OWWA Language and Culture Orientation.
The No-placement Fee policy does not apply to them since they are merely resuming their employment under an existing contract and are processed at the POEA without the participation of an agency.
b) HSWs who completed their overseas contracts within 2006 and thereafter, and are returning to the same or new employer with their OEC issued before 1 March 2007, are exempted from the following:
• Minimum age of 23; • Minimum entry salary of US$400; • Payment of placement fee, if hired thru an agency; • TESDA NC2 Certificate; and
• Attendance to the OWWA Language and Culture Orientation unless returning to a country with a different language and culture, as determined by OWWA.
c) HSWs who completed their overseas contracts before 2006 and are returning to the same or new employer with their OEC issued before 1 March 2007 are covered by the new minimum salary rate of US$400.
They are, however, exempted from the following:
• Minimum age requirement
• Payment of placement fee, if hired thru an agency
• TESDA NC2 requirement, unless required by their employer • OWWA Language and Culture Orientation unless returning to a country with a different language and culture, as determined by OWWA.
d) HSWs who completed their overseas employment contracts which were executed prior to 1 March 2007 and are being processed under a new contract with the same employer or new employer on or after 1 March 2007 are covered by the new minimum salary rate of US$400.
They are, however, exempted from the following:
• Minimum age requirement;
• Payment of placement fee, if hired thru an agency;
• TESDA NC2 requirement, unless required by their employer; and
• OWWA Language and Culture Orientation unless returning to a country with a different language and culture, as determined by OWWA.
e) HSWs who completed their employment contract before or after 2006 and are being processed under a new contract with the same or a new employer on or after 1 March 2007 are covered by the new minimum salary rate of US$400.
They are, however, exempted from the following:
• Minimum age requirement;
• Payment of placement fee, if hired thru an agency;
• TESDA NC2 requirement, unless required by their employer; and • OWWA Language and Culture Orientation unless returning to a country with a different language and culture, as determined by OWWA.
Last year, some $10.3 billion in overseas workers’ remittances were sent back home and it was 16.6 percent more than the previous year, according to Gabriela.
The group blamed President Gloria Arroyo for the hardship suffering of many overseas Filipino workers because of the new POEA guidelines.
"Mrs. Arroyo has been peddling our women, degrading them as mere commodities for her desperate efforts to fulfill her promise of 1.5 million jobs per year," Prof. Luz Ilagan, Gabriela second nominee, said in a statement sent to the Mindanao Examiner.
According to POEA data, women comprised majority of OFWs and since 1992, thepercentage of these women was equal to that of the men. In 2002, the percentage of women OFWs rose to 69 percent.
"Instead of approving the legislated wage hike or creating decent-paying jobs in the country, she opted to become the number one recruiter and exploiter of the women who are forced to work abroad despite the gnawing abuses awaiting them as well." Ilagan said.
In January, some 5,000 Filipino migrants workers in Hong Kong the new POEA guidelines on the deployment of domestic helpers.
Dolores Balladares, chairperson of the militant United Filipinos in Hong Kong (UNIFIL-MIGRANTE-HK), said that the protest action was just the first in the series of bigger ones that they are planning to organize to scrap the new prequalification measures of the POEA for Filipinos applying for domestic work abroad.
“Whenever the government is in dire need of money due to its bankrupt and corrupt economic policies, we are the ones who are made milking cows to fatten its coffers,” she said.
The protesters also held a program at Harcourt Garden, just below the building that houses the Philippine Consulate General, where they lambasted the POEA guidelines.
They also submitted a petition, signed by more than 130 organizations, that called for the scrapping of the new rules while also calling for genuine services to overseas Filipinos.
The protesters said new regulations are but mere “ploys for extortion”.
Under the said rules, applying domestic helpers must pass through several weeks of training to obtain the National Certificate for Household Service Workers, as the country-specific Language and Culture Certificate.
“Applicants are made to pay P1,500 (USD30) to P15,000 (USD300) for these so-called trainings. Even current OFWs are not spared as cases have been reported of them being refused to leave the Philippines if they fail to produce the said certificates,” Balladares said.
Balladares said that because of the nature of employment of current domestic helpers, “many of us, one way or another, will go back to the Philippines to have our papers processed.” (With reports from the Mindanao Examiner)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)