Regularization delay worries illegal OFWs in Belgium

BRUSSELS, Belgium – Undocumented Filipino migrants in Belgium are concerned over the delay in the results of their applications for regularization.

It has been half a year now since they applied and most undocumented migrants have not received any news yet from the Ministry of Interior.

From September 15 to December 15 last year, the Belgian government received applications from illegally staying migrants. However, it did not confirm how long it will take for the government to process all the applications.

Berly Cortez, who has been illegally working in Belgium for more than a decade now, hopes to receive confirmation from the Ministry.

“Sa mga kinauukulan, sana magkaroon na po ng kasagutan ang aming hinihintay. Sabik na sabik na rin po akong makita ang aking pamilya, ang aking mga kapatid kasi 11 years na po akong nakatira rito,” Cortez said.

For undocumented workers, the regularization will pave the way for them to find better jobs for their families.

“Ang regularisasyon po ay mahalaga sa akin para po makauwi ako sa Pilipinas para makita ang aking pamilya na matagal ko nang hindi nakikita tapos magkaroon po ng magandang opportunity at saka makapagbayad po ng tax sa bansa pong ito na aming pinagtatrabahuhan,” said Marie Cuyob.

‘Something fishy’

Some who have requested to remain anonymous doubted the government’s sincerity in providing working permits for illegal migrants.

They are apprehensive that this could be a tactical move of the Belgian government to track down the illegal migrants.

But others remain optimistic that their prayers would finally be answered before the year ends.

Although Pinoys are aware that each regularization application goes through a long and painstaking process, they said they also expect the Belgian government to take appropriate moves to expedite it. –Raquel Bernal-Crisostomo, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau