Migrante’s claim on UN
delisting a lie, says DFA

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.