PHL eyes labor pact with Morocco to protect OFWs

The Philippines is considering forging a bilateral labor agreement with Morocco to protect the welfare and rights of Filipino migrant workers there from employers' abuses.

This was according to the Philippine Embassy in Libya, as it admitted the limited assistance the Philippine government could offer to Filipino household workers suffering abuses in the North African nation.

In an email to GMA News Online, the embassy said the agreement seeks to “provide a legal framework for the deployment and hiring of Filipino workers in Morocco” to curb illegal employment and trafficking in persons.

The Philippine Embassy in Libya has concurrent jurisdiction over Morocco, as the country has no permanent diplomatic mission there.

At present, abused Filipino workers in Morocco seek refuge in either the Honorary Consulate General of the Philippines in Casablanca or the Philippine Embassy in Libya. But despite the embassy and the consulate's best efforts, the country's diplomatic status with Morocco remains a big factor why limited help could be extended to the workers.

Full diplomatic status

“Even if (the Honorary Consulate in Casablanca) wanted to establish a resource center or shelter, [it does] not have the capacity to operate such a facility on their own,” the embassy said in its statement.

“Establishing such a facility normally requires full diplomatic status which could not be had without a permanent diplomatic mission there,” it added.

Morocco – a country where labor laws hardly protect migrant workers, as Al-Jazeera reported in December 2013 – has had its share of undocumented, illegally hired or deployed workers, including Filipinos. The status of these workers further limits the assistance that can be extended to them.

“Due to the nature of the problem, the Department [of Foreign Affairs] or the Philippine Embassy, right now, is only able to extend help if the concerned HSW (household service worker) or her relative in the Philippines comes forward and seeks help,” the embassy explained.

Assistance

If they do come forward, the affected Filipino workers are given representation in legal matters, such as negotiating with Moroccan authorities and employees, and assistance in securing paperwork to return to the Philippines.

The latter option, according to the embassy, is a far more common service, for most prefer leaving the host country than getting justice or compensation.

Non-government organizations are easing the burden of providing assistance to these OFWs, but the most important step that could change their situation is on a bureaucratic level, hence a labor agreement.

MOU

The Philippine Embassy in Libya said another measure under consideration is a memorandum of understanding on Migration and Migration Policies with Morocco.

“This MOU, proposed by the Moroccan government, seeks to enhance cooperation between the two governments on the subject of migration and protection and promotion of rights of migrant workers,” it said.

Currently, the Moroccan government has an amnesty program that allows overstaying migrants to legalize their stay in the country.

While the region is often unheard of, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) stated that its position in North Africa and the Arab world made it a high-priority area for the Philippines.

“The growing number of cases involving Filipino women facing abuse of late, though still small in number compared to countries in the Middle East but no less serious in terms of extent, has made it especially important for the Department,” the embassy said. – KBK/JL, GMA News