OFW group debunks myth of global agreement on migration GCM

An OFW group criticized last Wednesday the Philippine government's adoption of the United Nations-initiated Global Compact on Migration, belying claims that the agreement is a tool for development.

In an article posted on Migrante International's website, Joanna Concepcion, executive director of Filipino Migrants Center (USA) pointed out that "GCM propagates an illusion of migration as a tool for development ...but in reality it will only intensify the Philippine’ labor export program" as if it is a labor norm.

“While GCM included the language of human rights in its contents, its non-binding nature does not really hold governments accountable in addressing the troubles faced by migrants,” she added.

Adopted by 164 UN-member countries, including the Philippines, the GCM which was forged in Morocco from December 10-11 this year, has been opposed by Migrante International and migrant rights advocates.

In a statement, they said that aside from "aggressiveness in entering new OFW labor markets such as China and Russia, the Rodrigo Duterte administration is constantly peddling Filipino workers to other countries despite the absence of protective bilateral measures that would ensure their well-being.

Arman Hernando of Migrante Philippines also scored the Duterte administration for a "barrage of state exactions" on OFWs including the forced insurance, TRAIN law, and mandatory SSS coverage to serve as guarantees to foreign countries and investors on loans for the ambitious "Build Build Build" program.

Citing a Migrante study conducted in October, Hernando claimed that the 3000% increase in the amount of SSS exactions from OFWs would translate to P144 Billion in the first year of its implementation.

“Since this is the biggest state exaction imposed on OFWs, Duterte administration is unmatched as the only president in the history of the Philippine labor export program who salivated after this humongous amount of money," Hernando said.

"Normalizing migration through the Philippines’ adoption of the Global Compact only emboldens the Duterte regime to introduce more state exactions,” he added.

Official sources indicate that the GCM would ensure orderly and regular migration based on internationally negotiated agreement that covers "all dimensions of international migration in a holistic and comprehensive manner." —LBG, GMA News