OFWs hit new remittance tax in Italy

MILAN, Italy – Many Filipino workers in Italy are against the imposition of a 2% tax on remittances sent by foreign migrant workers to their countries of origin. The new tax is part of the Italian government’s austerity measures, as it attempts to stave off a debt crisis in the eurozone’s third largest economy.

“Hindi ako pumapayag doon. Binabawasan na nga ang ating sweldo ng gubyerno ng Italya, ano pa matitira sa ating pera? Wala na,” said overseas Filipino worker (OFW) Adoracion Buhay.

Despite protests from Italy’s largest labor union, the Italian Senate budget committee still approved the 2% tax on money sent by foreign workers through banks and money transfer agencies.

“Magkano na lang ba ang natitira sa sweldo ng Pinoy plus padami ng padami ang tao dito, ang mga estranghero, padami ng padami nawawalan ng trabaho so bumababa yung salary in effect,” said another OFW, Dante Perez.

The labor union argued that the tax is a heavy burden on migrant workers since these remittance centers and banks already collect hefty service fees for money transfer transactions.

It added that foreign workers should not be made to suffer because of the current economic problems of Italy. Zita Baron, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau