PH, Lebanon ink accords to protect OFWs

BEIRUT, Lebanon — Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz on Wednesday signed two agreements here to protect the rights of Filipino workers in Lebanon and pave the way for the lifting of a ban imposed by the Philippine government on the deployment of Filipino workers to that country.

Baldoz said the agreements she signed with Lebanese Labor Minister Charbel Nahhas would also lead to the Department of Foreign Affairs reviewing its previous certification that Lebanon was not safe for Filipino workers under the standards set by the amended Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995 or RA 10022.

The two labor chiefs signed on Wednesday afternoon  a Memorandum of Understanding on Labor Cooperation and a Protocol on Regulating the Recruitment and Employment of Domestic Workers.

“It’s really a big step towards the lifting of the ban. With their [negative certification from the DFA], they really need this,” Baldoz said in an interview.

The total deployment ban was imposed in July 2007 in the wake of Lebanon’s conflict with Israel. At that time, there were an estimated 35,000 Filipinos here but that number has since increased to 50,000 due to the continuing influx of undocumented workers.

Baldoz said that among the benefits that Filipino maids got was the assurance that they would get a $400 basic monthly salary. This provision will be included in the “unified work contract” that the two sides  still have to thresh out.

“The [MOU] and its accompanying Protocol are concrete positive steps of both Lebanon and the Philippines that demonstrate their mutual accord and commitment to the promotion of decent work for domestic workers in accordance with international standards,” a joint statement released by the two governments said.

“One of the most important provisions of the Protocol is that both parties will exert their best effort to come up with a mutually acceptable unified work contract and to lift the ban within a period of 30 days from the entering into effect of the [MOU] and the protocol,” it added.

The statement also pointed out that the protocol required Lebanese employers to deposit their maids’ salary in a bank account under the domestic helper’s name.

Baldoz was supposed to sign only the MOU when she arrived here on Tuesday but Nahhas insisted that they also come up with the protocol and also sign it.

From 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. on Tuesday and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, a Philippine delegation led by Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) chief Hans Cacdac and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration head Carmelita Dimzon negotiated with their Lebanese counterparts to
iron out the details.

Baldoz said the agreements would now be reviewed by the Lebanese parliament. Once they are approved, the DFA would review its negative certification of Lebanon and the POEA governing board would decide whether to formally lift the ban.

The Philippine government has 30 days to decide whether to lift the ban once Lebanon formally informs it that parliament has given its nod to the agreements.

Hisham El-Bourji, president of the Syndicate of the Owners of Recruitment Agencies in Lebanon (Soral), hailed Baldoz’s visit, saying that it meant the “happy days of the illegal recruiters have come to an end.”

El-Bourji added that once the ban is lifted, his group would lobby the Lebanese parliament and authorities to devise rules to better protect migrant workers and approve the International Labor Organization’s convention on domestic helpers.

“In July 2007, when the ban was imposed, majority of the employers here were greatly devastated simply because they depend much on their Filipino workers at home, especially the working mothers,” El-Bourji said.

“Filipinos are known to the world for their hard work, diligence, trustworthiness, and [for being] easy to train. It is not surprising that even in the most difficult situations, the Filipino worker’s excellent qualities shine through. Thus, majority of employers here prefer to hire them,” he added.

He said it was the illegal recruiters who benefited greatly after the  worker deployment ban was imposed in 2007.

“The illegal recruiters benefited much from this ban and many of the workers suffered for lack of protection. Now, I can proudly say that the happy days of the illegal recruiters have  come to an end,” El-Bourji said.

“Lifting of the ban will certainly guarantee the protection of the workers to the highest level. Everyone can work legally and be properly documented,” he said.