800 More OFWs Retrenched in Taiwan

Migrants ask for genuine immediate relief

While the government is boasting off more job openings for Filipinos abroad, more than 800 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) were retrenched in Taiwan this month alone according to a global alliance of migrants groups.

Migrante International Deputy Secretary General Gina Gaborni urged the government to act immediately to protect the labor rights of and give genuine immediate relief to the retrenched workers.

Martinez said some of these OFWs were intimidated into signing agreements that were disadvantageous to them. He also said that as more and more OFWs are retrenched, the more it is getting harsher for them.

He cited the case of 161 retrenched OFWs from Walton Advanced Engineering Inc who were threatened by a Taiwanese broker that they would not get any separation pay, provision for food and airfare to the Philippines should they refuse to sign the agreement.

Apart from these, they have to pay 20 percent of income tax as they have only stayed in Taiwan for less than 183 days as stated in the Ministry of Finance’s policy. Unfortunately, most of the retrenched workers in Taiwan were employed for only four to six months.

Migrante also recorded 162 retrenched OFWs from Inotera, 127 from Tripod, 62 from Ichia Technology, 42 from Chipmos, 32 from Sintek plus 400 more from different Taiwanese companies.

Gaborni said the rate of retrenchment is so alarming and may go over the 11,000 retrenchment projection of OFWs by Taiwan’s Council of Labor Affairs.

Gaborni called on the Arroyo administration to stop promising jobs abroad and open its eyes to the real conditions of OFWs. “The government should instead protect and defend the labor rights of retrenched OFWs rather than giving false hopes via jobs abroad,” Gaborni said.

He also slammed the so-called livelihood program for OFWs affected by the global financial crisis as nothing but a bogus program since it was designed in a way no OFW can afford.

On December 4, 2008, Presidente Arroyo signed Administrative Order 248, allocating P250 million OWWA fund for expatriate workers. However, Martinez said not a single OFW has been helped by the program.

“In reality, only 10% or P5,000 of the allotted P50,000 for each expatriate worker is available, the rest are in goods. And before anyone can benefit from the program, one has to attend seminars, trainings, draw a feasibility study for a livelihood program plus other requirements,” Gaborni said.

He also urged the Congress to investigate and prosecute the rampant overcharging of placement fees for outbound OFWs by recruitment agencies and some government officials.

“It seems like the so-called ‘modern day heroes’ and ‘lifeline of our economy’ are also the milking cows of private recruitment agencies in cahoots with corrupt government officials,” Gaborni ended.###

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