Forum to highlight protection of OFWs

MANILA, Philippines - Measures to protect overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from abuses and give them active roles in pursuing development are expected to be tackled during the Global Forum on Migration and Development later this month. During the forum’s launch on Tuesday in Malacañang, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Esteban B. Conejos, Jr. said the conference will focus on protecting and empowering migrants for development. "The central theme of the forum represents the growing recognition that for development to happen, they are contingent to the way by which the rights of migrants are protected by origin and destination countries," he said. He said around 1,000 delegates from 192 countries will attend the event in Manila, including UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Mr. Conejos said the forum will provide the country a chance to showcase practices and structures in deploying workers, new ideas and policies to improve on existing measures, expand its network of contacts to improve the plight of OFWs, and as a forum to talk with civil society. In her speech at the event, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo cited the role of OFWs in keeping the economy afloat through their remittances. "Overseas Filipinos continue to play a critical role in the country’s economic and social stability. Our overseas Filipinos send us money here and help their families, their communities, and our economy," she said. Mrs. Arroyo vowed to promote economic growth so that migration will become a career option rather than a necessity. "We are working towards that day when Filipinos no longer need to go abroad for a job... Meanwhile, while we are working to that day... our government works doubly hard to strengthen the protection of workers," she said. "Our policy is not to export labor. Our policy is to protect workers when the market conditions... give them opportunity to work abroad." The President said she would prefer calling OFWs "expatriates," who usually get higher pay than workers, since the nature of their job is increasingly becoming skills-based. "The government and the people honor our overseas Filipinos whether you call them OFWs, OCWs (Overseas Contract Workers) [or] Overseas Filipino Investors," Mrs. Arroyo said. There are around eight million Filipinos working abroad. The Foreign Affairs department said the Philippines ranks fourth among labor-sending countries. The country also ranks fourth in terms of remittances received. Remittances, which represent 10% of the good and services produced in the country in a year, is expected to reach $16.6 billion this year. — Alexis Douglas B. Romero, BusinessWorld