I decided to devote this entire column to set the record straight on what transpired during the Joint House hearing of the Committee on Government Reorganization and the Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs. The joint committee hearing on the technical working group’s version of a bill creating a department for Filipinos overseas took place on November 26.
A person who represents himself as a spokesman of the industry recently issued a press release, and I quote: “The joint committees rail-roaded like a bullet train the deletion of 39 provisions, like an oversight committee for the OWWA [Overseas Workers Welfare Administration] Fund, blacklisting of foreign employers, safeguards for the OWWA Fund, liability of money claims, many other important provisions that were included in the preliminary draft from 31 bills submitted by the House members and collated by Rep. Joey Salceda from relevant reform—minded from various sectors of the recruitment industry and OFWs [overseas Filipino workers].”
Aside from showing to the world what atrocious writing looks like, this so-called industry expert also cited OFW Family Party-list Rep. Bobby Pacquiao for “always second-the-motion” (sic). It also sought to paint this writer and OFW advocate as a bad person in pushing for, of all things, ethical recruitment.
What were some of the provisions being pushed by the recruitment industry that members of the House joint committees on reorganization and OFW affairs approved for deletion? Let’s see.
Creation of an OFW Malasakit sa Kabayan Fund—The recruitment sector wants to put up an insurance fund to be managed by OWWA that would pay for all the money claims of distressed OFWs and seafarers. Deputy Speaker Luis Raymund Villafuerte moved for the deletion of this section because of a constitutional provision, which specifies that for every bill, there should only be one subject matter.
Creation of an Overseas Labor Relations Commission—upon careful reading of this proposal, it says that no OFW can benefit from a favorable decision until all court appeals are resolved. Kawawa naman ’yung worker na nanalo na sa arbitration proceedings. Ilang taon bago man lang umabot ang isang appeal sa Supreme Court?No one in the room objected when the deputy speaker moved for the deletion of this proposed section.
The industry also pushed for a provision that would make it mandatory for rehired OFWs to obtain mandatory insurance to be charged to their employers. TUCP Party-list Rep. Raymond Mendoza, cited this as an example of a proposal that is not related to government reorganization. He suggested that the proponents submit this as a proposal to the committee on OFW affairs, which he chairs.
Was there a quorum during the joint committee hearing? Rep. Marvey Mariño said there was. “In our rules, we needed only 1/5th of the membership, and the minority bloc also had a representative. There was a quorum.”
Mariño assured stakeholders could still submit their comments to his committee. “May floor debates pa ’yan.”
During the joint hearing, Salceda berated the industry leaders present for failing to speak up when the provisions they pushed for were being deleted. “You were so noisy during the technical working group meetings. Was I even talking to the right people?” an emotional Salceda said in the vernacular.
I interviewed Mariño for this column. He said that any stakeholder who raised his or her hand to object or comment on the vote would have been recognized. “The resource persons cannot vote, but they were certainly allowed to speak.”
For example, the committee chairmans did give former ACTS OFW Party-list Rep. John Bertiz quite a lengthy opportunity to speak. He was vehemently against the deletion of a provision that would make it mandatory for balik-manggagawa workers to obtain insurance coverage to be charged to their foreign employers. Villafuerte calmly explained that this could be the subject of a separate bill.
The truth is the recruitment industry need not wait for the creation of a new department to press for reforms in favor of their industry. The department to be created is meant for the workers, and for Filipino migrants all over the world. The right avenue for the proposals of the industry would be in the rules and regulations of the current Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, and in the amendments of the existing Migrant Workers Act.
In any failed lobby effort, there will always be a search for scapegoats. For openly disagreeing with some of the provisions that recruiters are pushing for, I may have incurred the ire of a few industry leaders. But like my late father, I have always lived up to the demands of my conscience. When my views are asked, I say it. I think I have earned that right given the number of years I have invested in my work as a labor advocate.
It is quite sad that deliberations on a department that has yet to see the light of day have now caused deep divisions in the overseas employment sector. Perhaps the healing spirit of Christmas will touch everyone’s heart, so that we can look forward to a more cordial New Year.
****
Susan V. Ople heads the Blas F. Ople Policy Center and Training Institute, a nonprofit organization that deals with labor and migration issues. She also represents the OFW sector in the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking.
4 comments
Thank you for not mentioning my name though I am not ashamed if you did, I think I have earned my right to speak for the industry since I have been doing since 1997 as spokesman of OPAP, PILMAT, SHARP, FEDAMANEX,CLADS in that order all large recruitment industry associations.
You deny inserting “Ethical Recruitment” but in the preliminary draft, under Section 3 the provision of Ethical Recruitment clearly says c/o Susan Ople.
Like you in my later years of this industry I have helped a few OFWs in fighting for justice against abusive employers using my meager resources. My record stands tall as an advocate for the right to work for OFWs in Afghanistan and Iraq. Thank you.
Once again, Mr. Geslani, you are spreading fake news. Look at the TWG. The definition of ethical recruitment there is different from the amended and approved joint committee report. Why? Because the definition in the joint committee report was supplied by no less than Deputy Speaker LRay Villafuerte. I did not mention your name because you are not worthy of it. The only reason I am replying to you now is because I and so many others hate fake news. I do not question your years in Afghanistan nor your desire to help people. I just think it’s so sad that you have become a PR mercenary, putting together tidbits of information without even any effort to validate. You are causing people pain, and that in itself should be the biggest source of shame.
If only you had asked me what really transpired. Pero ikaw na rin nagsabi, di ba? Nautusan ako – trabaho lang. Well, my reputation and credibility are non-negotiable.
Tsaka please lang — kung wala ka mismo sa hearing, wag kang magpanggap na alam mo nangyari. Di yan tama. And yes, hindi yan ethical.
Definition of ethical recruitment in the TWG draft as supplied by me: “refers to the process of recruitment and deployment of workers overseas in accordance with international human rights standards….”
Yan ang definition ko and I stand by that. Si Deputy Speaker Villafuerte came up with what I think is a more comprehensive definition attuned to ILO and IOM principles.
That you are even scared of ethical recruitment already says a lot about your “advocacy of convenience.”
makisingit w/ my opinion, hindi ba ninyo naiisip na yang Malasakit Fund at Overseas Labor Commission ay walang pagkakaiba sa opening a can of worms….hindi lang pahirap sa mga ofws, maski sa authority ng POEA na mag suspende at mag disiplina sa mga licensed recruitment agencies ma apektuhan…gagamitin yan palusot ng mga recruitment agencies