DOLE and DFA: the stigma of a bad and dishonored service

DOLE and DFA: the stigma of a bad and dishonored service

The past week, the world of Filipino migrant workers trembled with the exposè of sex scandals in the Philippine foreign posts particularly in the Middle East. Embassy and consular staffs and officials abusing female OFWs staying as wards in the so called Resource Centers or shelter houses stablished to house distressed OFWs. Some sort of safe houses where migrant workers could stay under the protection of the Philippine government in the compound within the Philippine consular jurisdiction where the wards could be safe.

All this semblance of a safe place where a distressed Filipino migrant worker could go at times of need has, in a matter of few hours has crumbled. And the truth now glares in the eyes of OFWs. They cannot trust the embassies of the Philippine as a safe haven from exploitation and maltreatments. The Resource Centers in the embassies are not safe for them! And worst, instead of finding a haven, it is the personnel of the embassies who are supposed to protect them are the ones who maltreat and exploit them in the worst possible way: instead of protection, the OFWs are prostituted by for money.

Whatmore, the OFWs who request to be reptatriated find that they have to wait long endless time waiting for the ‘go ahead’ due to snail paced procedures being followed by our consular services. This situation make the  wards of the safe houses ripe for exploitation  .

The DFA and DOLE will be remembered by  the Filipino  migrant workers for years  as the Philippine government’s service for sex trafficking and the embassy officials as pimps.

 Time alone can remove this stigma. No amount of perpunctuary  motions by these departments could heal the wounds they have hacked in the flesh of the migrant workers. These government departments must make drastic changes in their policies and a widespreading revamps in their personnel for foreign posts.

In the meantime, the Filipino migrant worker communities worldwide will be watching closely the developments of this issue. The wounds they have inflicted on the OFWs will be hurting for a long time. We must not rest until this hyenous practices in the Philippine foreign posts are eradicated completely. And the DPLE and DFA must hear the criticisms of JNGOs and associations advocating the rights and welfare of the Filipino migrant workers with care and open ears.

END SEXPLOITATION OF THE FILIPINO MIGRANT WORKERS BY FOREIGN EMPLOYERS AND GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS!!!

CREATE JOBS AT HOME, NOT LABOR EXPORTATION!!!