Ambassador Asuque discusses PHL protective measures for OFWs with human rights watch officials

January 7, 2011 press release prepared by the Department of Foreign Affairs

Philippine Ambassador to Lebanon Gilberto G.B. Asuque met ranking officials of the Human Rights Watch (HRW) to discuss the protective measures for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) under Republic Act (RA) 10022, otherwise known as the Amendatory Law on the Magna Carta for Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos.

The meeting was held at the Chancery last December 1.

Assistant Labor Attaché Salome Mendoza and Welfare Officer Toribio Robles Jr. joined the Ambassador during the meeting with HRW officials.

HRW Executive Director for Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Division Sarah Leah Whitsom, HRW-MENA Division Researcher Nadim Houry and HRW Germany Director Wenzel Michalski led the 14-member HRW delegation.

The HRW officials were in Lebanon to assess the status of the rights of migrant domestic workers and the efforts done by the Lebanese government in addressing migrant workers’ concerns over the protection of their rights and welfare.

Ambassador Asuque discussed RA10022 and its relevant provisions specifically the conditions that must exist in the receiving country before OFWs are allowed to be recruited and deployed.

He explained the reason for the current total deployment ban to Lebanon, and pointed out that the Embassy is negotiating a Memorandum of Understanding on Labor Cooperation with the Lebanese government that will provide for the protective measures required by RA10022.

Assistant Labor Attaché Mendoza and Welfare Officer Robles informed the HRW officials of the assistance being provided by the Embassy, the Labor Office and OWWA-Beirut to the OFWs in Lebanon especially to those in distress who ran away from their Lebanese employers or recruitment agencies with complaints of abuse.

These OFWs-in-distress are now sheltered in the Filipino Workers Resource Center (FWRC).

The assistance provided also includes searching for the OFWs wherever they may be in Lebanon and bringing them to the FWRC to resolve their immigration cases with the Lebanese authorities.

Two OFW-wards in the FWRC were invited to the meeting to briefly present their status and condition in Lebanon to the visiting HRW officials.

Ambassador Asuque informed the HRW officials that the 31 OFW wards (as of 1 December 2010) in the FWRC are given full assistance by the Philippine government.

Assistance provided to them includes negotiations with the Lebanese immigration authorities for the resolution of their immigration cases, issuance of exit permits and repatriation.

The Embassy repatriated 162 OFWs in three batches last November 15 and 16 after undergoing the assistance process.

At the end of the meeting, the HRW officials commended the Philippines for providing the best example and best practices in the protection of the rights and the promotion of the welfare of migrant workers.

HRW officials also held a meeting with Lebanese Labor Minister Butros Harb who briefed them on the status of the proposed legislation for migrant workers.