Nanawagan si Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte na buwagin na ang kafala system - ang sistema sa mga bansa sa Gitnang Silangan na pinapayagan ang mga amo na magkaroon ng kontrol sa kanilang dayuhang manggagawa tulad ng mga overseas Filipino worker.
Ginawa ni Duterte ang apela nitong Martes sa virtual forum ng Labor Mobility and Human Rights na inorganisa Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, at International Organization for Migration (IOM).
“The Philippines recognizes the sovereign right of each state to adopt its own migration policy. But there are universal liberties and moral standards we must adhere to at all times. We can’t justify the denial of basic human rights and the fundamental freedoms of every individual,” ayon kay Duterte.
“That is why the Philippine government strongly calls for a complete abolition of the kafala system sooner rather than later. The kafala system is unjust, exploitative and places thousands of migrant workers—particularly in-household workers—in the most vulnerable situation, unseen, unheard, and unable to defend their dignity,” patuloy ng Punong Ehekutibo.
Sinabi pa ni Duterte na malaki ang naitutulong ng mga dayuhang manggagawa sa paglago at pag-unlad ng bansang pinanggalingan nito at maging sa bansa na kaniyang pinagtatrabahuhan, kaya nararapat lamang na maging patas sa lahat ang patakaran patungkol sa kanila.
“The Filipino is not a slave to anyone anywhere," giit niya.
Inihayag din ni Duterte ang masaklap na karanasan ng ilang dayuhang manggagawa sa kamay ng mapang-abusong amo tulad ng hindi makataong sitwasyon sa kanilang tinitirhan, hindi pinapasahod, limitado ang pagkilos, inaabuso, pinakakaitan ng healthcare assistance, at kung minsan ay pinapatay.
“This has got to stop. The COVID-19 pandemic has pushed migrant workers, especially those under the kafala system, to an even more precarious position,” anang pangulo.
“As the world went into lockdowns, many were driven into destitution with no job, no social safety nets, and no money to send back home. We must address the structural inequalities and push migrant workers to the grim reality,” dagdag niya.
Pinuri naman ni Duterte, ang repormang ginagawa ng Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, at Bahrain sa kafala system.
“This [move] will significantly improve the working conditions of migrant workers in the Kingdom including the 800,000 Filipinos. Certainly, the Philippine government assumes its part of the responsibility in ensuring that our people are safe and live with dignity wherever they may be,” pahayag niya.
“We [will] continue to bravely speak against the ills of the kafala system [and] we will be relentless in our efforts to dismantle this unjust structure. This is the right thing to do. This is what it’s expected of us and this is the only way to move forward,” sabi pa ng pangulo. — FRJ, GMA News
