Page 1 of 31

Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal – Vol. 8, No. 11

Publication Date: November 25, 2021

DOI:10.14738/assrj.811.10992. Fonte, A. (2021). 50 Years A Slave: A Review on Philippine Labour Migration. Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal, 8(11).

70-100.

Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom

50 Years A Slave: A Review on Philippine Labour Migration

Allain Fonte

ABSTRACT

The Philippines has been deploying migrant workers to more than 192 countries,

with a rising number that exceeds up to a million workers every year. In 2009, the

record of migrant workers’ remittances went up to 17.4 billion US dollars from 10.4

billion US dollars in 2005. Reports showed that remittances comprise a bigger

portion of the Philippines’ gross domestic product, as it contributed 10.8% to the

GDP in 2005, and 11.1% in 2009. After more than 50 years of deploying Filipino

workers overseas, the Philippines should have improved with its labour policies

and implementing them. Yet, reports on abuses of Filipino workers can still be read

and heard. This paper reviews the two most controversial cases where the

Philippine government had failed to protect its migrant workers by analysing its

then labour policies; and how they have impacted the labour and migration sectors

to ensure the welfare of its migrant workers. Further, this research discusses

reoccurring issues such as delayed services from government agencies, lack of

administrative skills to process complaints and cases of Filipino migrant workers,

poor communication and coordination among government offices, labour policies

that do not abide by the constitution, and the unfair provisions in the treaties

between Philippines and destination countries for low-skilled workers.

Keywords: labour migration, migration, migrant workers, labour policies

Page 2 of 31

71

Fonte, A. (2021). 50 Years A Slave: A Review on Philippine Labour Migration. Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal, 8(11). 70-100.

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/assrj.811.10992

ALU Associated Labor Union

BLA‟s Bilateral Labor Agreements

CEDAW Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against

Women

CERD Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

CFO Commission on Filipinos Overseas

CHR Commission on Human Rights

CRC Convention on the Rights of the Child

DFA Department of Foreign Affairs

ILO International Labor Organization

MOA Memorandum of Agreement

MOU Memorandum of Understanding

OFW Overseas Filipino Workers

OWWA Overseas Workers Welfare Administration

PDOS Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar

POEA Philippines Overseas Employment Administration

POLO Philippine Overseas Labor

TUCP Trade Union Congress of the Philippines

UN United Nations

UN CMW UN Convention on the Rights of all Migrant Workers and Members of their

Families

UN MWC UN Migrant Workers Committee

INTRODUCTION

Seeking employment to other countries has been the major solution of most Filipinos to elevate

themselves and their families from poverty. They choose to venture to an unfamiliar territory

and take the risk of a life away from their families, rather than staying in the Philippines and

being contented with jobs that are very casual, low-paying, and with lesser benefits. This is

because the country is being hit by a high percentage of unemployment. The unemployment

Page 3 of 31

72

Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal (ASSRJ) Vol. 8, Issue 11, November-2021

Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom

rate was highest at 13.90% in the year 2000 as reported by the National Statistics Office, and it

is only recently that the unemployment rate went down to 6.0% as there are more people who

found jobs in the services and agricultural sectors. The next challenge is somehow to survive

from their income with their newfound jobs. The National Statistics Coordination Board

reported in 2013 that the estimate should concern the Philippine government because despite

all the efforts that have been exerted, the poverty rates have not changed since in the year 2009.

So, there is no wonder why a great number of Filipinos still want to migrate and find work

overseas.

The country has been deploying OFW‟s to 192 countries at present, with a rising number that

exceeds to a million workers every year starting in 2005 (Abrigo and Orbeta, 2005). In 2009,

the record of OFW remittances went up to 17.4 billion US dollars from 10.4 billion US dollars in

2005 (Setyawati, 2013). The OFW remittances comprise a bigger portion of the Philippines‟

gross domestic product, as it contributed 10.8% to the GDP in 2005, and 11.1% in 2009

(Antique, 2010; Setyawati, 2013). These numbers are from OFW remittances that are

transacted through banks only, and those that have been recorded. These numbers do not

include remittances that are sent through non-formal channels, or directly given to the

recipients.

The migrant Filipino workers have filled posts from different skills sets from high, to medium,

to low skills set of jobs. A few OFW’s are working in countries like Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong,

Singapore, Malaysia, and other destination countries in construction and domestic work (Rojas,

2009; Setyawati, 2013). Meanwhile in Thailand, Vietnam, and China, several OFW’s are working

as English language tutors, grade school and high school teachers, site engineers,

telecommunications engineers, IT specialists, hotel supervisors and managers, and restaurant

wait staff (Hall, Mai Thi, and Manajit, 2011; see also Chalamwong, 2012; Mah, 2014). In the

researcher’s personal account, he met a few OFW’s in Bangkok (mostly undocumented) who

are engaging in sex work. These undocumented OFW’s are on visa-runs. The International Labor

Organization (ILO) holds a record of about 700,000 to 1,000,000 workers from the Philippines

(and Indonesia) fleeing their countries each year, and an approximate twice of these numbers

are undocumented workers (ILO, 2011; see also Setyawati, 2013).

The Philippine president, President Benigno Aquino III, in his inaugural speech on the 30th of

June 2010 has promised protection and assistance to OFW‟s. Yet, there are still reported cases

of Filipino workers being abused by their employers that ended up to losing their jobs and non- compensation. These scenarios mostly reflect the poor implementation of labour migration

policies between the Philippines and the destination countries (Abrigo and Orbeta, 2005;

Begonia, 2013; Charmmartin et. al., 2012; Gulnara, 2010). To quote Aquino III.

Our goal is to create jobs at home so that there will be no need to look for

employment abroad. How-ever, as we work towards that end, I am ordering the

DFA, POEA, OWWA, and other relevant agencies to be even more responsive to the

needs and welfare of our overseas Filipino workers. (Aquino III, 2010)

With the fall of unemployment rate in the country at present, there is no doubt that the

president has delivered his promise on establishing jobs locally. Yet, the promise of a more

responsive government to the needs and welfare of OFW‟s has yet to be delivered. Given the