"Mabuhay and Pilipinong Migrante": 
MARINO and MMOA solidarity message to AMEND during the Migrant Workers' Day*

In behalf of MARINO, the organization of Filipino blacklisted seafarers, and the Merchant Marine Overseas Association or MMOA, we wish to join the Alliance of Migrant Workers and Advocates to Amend RA 8042 or AMEND and all Filipinos toiling abroad in celebrating the Migrant Workers’ Day today, June 7.

This is a special day where we salute the great contributions to our country of the Filipino migrant workers. Known as the overseas Filipino workers or OFWs, the sea- and land-based migrant workers have substantially and consistently propped up our economy while enduring extreme loneliness, hard work, and even deprivations and dangers in far-away and strange lands and seas. But the honor bestowed upon them by the government as Mga Bagong Bayani or modern heroes has remained a lip service. What with the mediocre service the government agencies provide these workers. Moreover, aside from the corrupt and inept bureaucrats that OFWs have to deal with – when applying for jobs or processing the required documents, while abroad, and even during their homecomings as balikbayans – a series of Philippine governments has vigorously pursued the one-sided “liberalization” or specifically the “deregulation” of the migrant labor market. For one, they seek to transform the labor export market into a strictly “employer-employee” domain, wherein the state will relinquish its regulatory functions and let the bosses and their workers settle their problems; just like the much abused dictum of letting the so-called “market forces” run their course. This, despite the rampant and unabated anti-worker practices in this sector – from illegal recruiters to abusive foreign employers. 

This “deregulation” frenzy is in fact at the core of RA 8042 or the Migrant Workers Act of 1995, which prompted the establishment of AMEND as well as other organizations of Filipino migrant workers and NGOs. You may recall that in late 2000, an umbrella group of POs and NGOs, including AMEND and my organization, has been able to get the support of some legislators when they adopted and integrated our proposals into their bills that aim to scrap the provisions on “deregulation” and rectify the other loopholes in RA 8042. Included here are the House Bill (HB) 9521 of Rep. Etta Rosales of Akbayan and Rep. Romeo Candazo, and Senate Bill (SB) 1877 of Sen. Juan Flavier. The bad news is, both Houses of the Congress have sat on these proposed amendments.

We should, however, never lose hope in our struggle. In this seventh year of RA 8042, and while commemorating the Migrant Workers’ Day, we must reaffirm our commitment to intensify our diverse but interconnected efforts to make Filipino migrant workers – and all workers, in general – enjoy the fruits of their labor; and that their rights, benefits and privileges are being complied with and fully protected.

Mabuhay ang mga Pilipinong Migrante!
Mabuhay ang mga Manggagawang Pilipino!
Mabuhay ang Kilusang Paggawa!

_______

This message of solidarity was read during the Migrant Worker's Day Concert held in UP Manila last 7 June 2002. MARINO and MMOA are auxiliary affiliates of the APL. 

Posted to the APL website 11-June-2002

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