Philippines: Trade Pact with Japan Sets Dangerous Precedent for Filipino Health Workers

Health Alliance for Democracy is joining calls for the Philippine Senate to reject the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA) not only for its onerous provisions but also for its discriminatory provisions against the rights of Filipino migrant workers.

HEAD, a national organization of health professionals, workers, and students, believes that JPEPA sets a dangerous precedent that will undermine the rights of Filipino migrant workers, including thousands of doctors, nurses, and health workers seeking greener pastures abroad.

Under JPEPA, a Filipino nurse or caregiver must pass a set of requirements, including a national examination in Japan that necessitates fluency in the Japanese language, both in written and oral form. These requirements alone are extremely difficult.

“The Japanese government may argue that it is well within their right to demand a high standard of criteria before Filipino nurses and caregivers can be employed in Japan.” According to Dr. Gene Alzona Nisperos, HEAD Secretary General, “But even after Filipino nurses and caregivers pass the gauntlet of these stringent requirements, what will they get? Only a temporary, three-year working permit. Such a temporary status severely undermines their rights and welfare.”

Even by renewing their three-year permit, these workers will remain temporary workers and be denied of immigrant rights. They will also be “permanently temporary”, or casual workers, and will not be covered by labor rights such as the right to security of tenure and the right to organize unions. They will be passed off during promotions and will not enjoy benefits given to regular workers.

“In essence, the professional advancement and future as immigrants of Filipino nurses and caregivers in Japan are already compromised by JPEPA even before they begin their employment there.” noted Dr. Nisperos.

HEAD debunks the deceptive propaganda by the Arroyo government that one of the gains from JPEPA is the employment of Filipino nurses and caregivers. “With JPEPA, the Philippine government is institutionalizing the practice of selling off Filipinos as cheap labor.” Added Dr. Nisperos, “It has made Filipino migrant workers even more vulnerable to discrimination and abuse.”

JPEPA incorporates many provisions of the World Trade Organization (WTO) General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) that have been consistently and soundly rejected. In the 6th WTO Ministerial Meeting held in Hong Kong in December 2005, there was a failure to reach a general agreement on GATS precisely because of contentious issues such as MODE 4 or the movement of natural persons, which are deemed discriminatory against migrant workers. These are the points now being forced upon us through JPEPA.

Once approved, JPEPA will set a precedent that will allow countries like the United States of America and those in the European Union to follow suit and exact a similar agreement with the Philippines. Since some of these countries are host to thousands of Filipino health workers and professionals, repercussions will be enormous and will reverberate across the globe.

Dr. Nisperos notes, “Many developed nations want our health care providers for the needs of their aging populations but they do not want to provide the attendant benefits and privileges accorded to migrant workers. Such neocolonial attitude is exemplified by JPEPA. Thus, these developed countries are watching how we deal with JPEPA.”

HEAD strongly opposes the Labor Export Policy of the Arroyo government and believes that the rights and welfare of Filipino health workers should be protected and upheld, no matter where they are working. “We call on the Senate and the Filipino people to reject and junk JPEPA. We also demand an end to the Arroyo government’s labor export policy that sacrifices Filipino migrant workers at the altar of imperialist globalization.” ###
References:
Dr. Gene Alzona Nisperos
Secretary-General, 0916 214 5724

Dr. Geneve E. Rivera
Deputy Secretary-General, 0920 460 3712

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