“At this point, it is crucial for the DFA to ask the Syrian government to pressure its nationals to release Filipina domestic workers from their contracts and make way for their speedy repatriation.”
Akbayan Party gave that recommendation to the Foreign Affairs department as anti-government protests in Syria enter its sixth month and the situation threatens to descend into a civil war.
“All indicators are pointing to a possible collapse of Syrian President Assad’s regime: mass protests across the nation are dispersed violently at the order of the government, opposition forces are reportedly planning armed resistance, international forces are discussing a military intervention option to control the situation,” Akbayan Representative Walden Bello said on Monday.
“We have 17,000 OFWs in Syria, mostly employed as domestic workers, and a good majority of them are undocumented. Only 17 are in the process of being repatriated. Clearly, the pressure is on to get Filipinos out of that country as fast as we could, before the government collapses and exit points close.”
According to various reports, a main stumbling block in repatriation efforts is the negotiation with employers for the release of OFWs, mainly employed as domestic workers, with some employers reportedly asking for exorbitant fees for compensation.
“Matatagalan talaga tayo sa nego kung paisa-isang employer ang kakausapin natin. At kapag lalong lumalala ang sitwasyon, mas mahirap nang mailabas ang ating mga kababayan mula sa Syria,” Bello added.
Recent reports said that the DFA already located 582 OFWs for repatriation and allocated a budget of $550,000 to finance and process termination of employment contracts, exit visas, and transportation expenses.
Bello also explained the necessity for DOLE and DFA to launch a public communications program that would provide timely updates of the repatriation process to respond to reports of negotiation inefficiencies and ineffectiveness, as well as calm the worst fears of migrant workers’ families here in the country .
“Who are the people on repatriation teams that we sent abroad, what is their expertise and do they have extensive experience in negotiating the release of workers? This information is vital in projecting the repatriation efforts to be efficient. Kailangang makapag-update sila sa progress ng repatriation efforts, lalo na para maibsan ang pagaalala ng mga pamilyang naiwan ng ating mga OFWs dito sa bansa,” Bello explained.
Bello, who also chairs the Lower House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs, also said that it was “to play the Congress’ oversight function” and assess the competence of teams abroad and the effectiveness of the repatriation program that he had intended to go to Syria.
“Ito na nga mismo ang dahilan kung ba’t nag-volunteer akong magpunta ng Syria. We need to see how things are on the ground so we may further improve the assistance that our government provides migrant workers caught in such situations,” Bello added. “It is very unfortunate that Speaker Belmonte did not authorize me to go.”
Bello however pointed out his confidence that the DFA could more effectively respond to the Syrian crisis than it did to the Libyan one earlier this eyar.
“The DFA gave a comprehensive report of the situation in Syria and the plans for repatriating OFWs in the last hearing of the committee on Overseas Workers Affairs,” Bello concluded. “And with Deputy Charge d’Affaires Ricardo Endaya spearheading the repatriation efforts in Syria, we hope that our teams would effectively apply the lessons from the Libyan and Lebanese repatriation efforts to ensure the welfare of Filipinos in Syria.”###
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