UN adopts PH resolution on women migrant workers

FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – The United Nations (UN) General Assembly has adopted a resolution giving protection to women migrant workers against abusive employers and exploitation.

“We are pleased to report that last December 18, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly has adopted, by consensus, the Philippine sponsored Resolution no. 68/137 on violence against women migrant workers,” presidential communications operations office secretary Sonny Coloma said in a press conference Thursday.

“The resolution calls on all countries to grant women migrant workers in domestic service access to gender-sensitive, transparent mechanisms for bringing complaints against employers including termination of their contract in case of labor and economic exploitation, sexual harassment and sexual abuse and violence,” he said.

According to records from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), 94,880 female domestic workers were deployed overseas in 2010.

This was a significant increase compared to the 69,669 newly hired domestic workers abroad in 2009 and the 47,841 new hires in 2008.

In 2007, there were 44,904 female domestic workers hired abroad, 89,819 in 2006, 81,725 in 2005, and 61,873 in 2004.

The resolution adopted by the UN was sponsored by the Philippines because it saw the need to protect the thousands of Filipina migrant workers worldwide, Coloma said.

“It urges all governments to consider permitting women migrant workers who are victims of violence to apply for residency permits independently of abusive employers or spouses, in accordance with national laws, and to eliminate abusive sponsorship systems,” he said.

“The Philippines’ initiative was prompted by the need to extend protection to thousands of Filipina migrant workers,” Coloma said.