A UNITED Nations’ list of model countries for
migration does not exist at all so it would be impossible for
the Philippines to have been de-listed from it.
This was the reply of the Philippine Mission
to the UN in Geneva, Switzerland to the claim of the migrant
workers’ group Migrante-Europe that the Philippines had been
removed from the list by the UN at the meeting of the Steering
Committee for the Campaign for Ratification of the Migrants
Rights Convention last April 8.
Migrante’s Grace Punongbayan said this was
done after Rev. Cesar Taguba of the Ecumenical Ministry for
Filipinos Abroad cited several instances where the Philippine
government failed to meet its obligations under the Convention.
The Philippine Mission said the country’s
image in the international community on migration remains intact
and it is one of the most active in all UN fora in the campaign
to promote ratification of the Convention on Migrant Workers.
"The Philippine Government has always
championed the rights of migrant workers and their families in
all fora in firm recognition of the significant role and
contribution of all migrant workers," said Ambassador Erlinda
Basilio, Philippine Permanent Representative to the UN in
Geneva, in a statement.
Basilio said the UN Committee on the
Protection of the Rights of all Migrant Workers and Members of
Their Families (CMW) had in fact praised the Philippines’
efforts to protect its migrants.
"Mr. Abdulhamid El Jamri of Morocco, CMW
chairman, called the Philippines a source of inspiration for
many, because of its wealth of experience and dynamism in
migration management and development," he related.
The envoy also said the Philippines’
contributions were cited in the UN document "Guide on
Ratification of the International Convention on the Protection
of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families."
"Page 28 of the Guide stated that, ‘Several
countries, such as Mexico and the Philippines, have engaged in
diplomatic efforts to widen ratification,’" Basilio said,
quoting the document.
In another development, Migrante-Middle East
said 40 overseas Filipino Workers in Qatar are in need of help
after they were duped and had remained unpaid for months by
their employer.
John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-ME regional
coordinator, said they were given a copy of a letter sent by
concerned OFWs asking for help for the 40 fellow Filipino
workers.
Monterona said some of the victims-OFWs were
identified only Ben, Justino, Boyet, Larry, Escala, Arnold and
Emerson. He said the OFWs were documented workers employed by
MARBLO Qatar, a subcontractor of Pearl Qatar projects. They were
reportedly forced to leave their employer after working for
several months without being paid.
Monterona said four of the 40 OFWs have
lodged a complaint with the Qatar Labor Ministry for amicable
settlement but their employer had reportedly declared bankruptcy
after receiving advance payment from the main contractor and
then fled to Lebanon.
"We are demanding from the Philippine
Embassy, POLO-OWWA in Qatar to provide the needed legal
assistance to the OFW-victims by providing them local lawyers if
necessary to defend their interests and labor rights," Monterona
said. – Gerard M. Naval