Migrant workers’ group hits gov’t labor export policy

MANILA, Philippines — A migrant workers’ group in the Netherlands criticized the government’s labor export policy which they said has led to millions of Filipinos forced to work abroad in potentially dangerous conditions, noting the recent complaint filed by 11 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) against their employer.

The group Migrante Netherlands, which has been helping the 11 OFWs who filed a complaint against the Amsterdam-based Saints and Stars gym for alleged inhumane working conditions, said in a statement that the incident is rooted in the labor expert policy of the government which intensified under the Marcos administration.

“In a span of decades, millions of Filipinos are forced to go abroad in order to find jobs because of the lack of land, decent work and worsening poverty [in the Philippines]. Because of desperation, many of our countrymen work under dangerous, undocumented and abusive conditions abroad,” the group said.

READ: Filipino workers decry alleged abuse, deception at Amsterdam gym

“What the workers of Saints and Stars gym experienced is clearly caused by the systematic neglect of the Philippine government, in which OFWs are treated as commodities, like cows that are being milked,” Migrante Netherlands said.

READ: 11 OFWs file complaints vs Amsterdam gym over harsh working conditions

The group called on the government to launch an independent investigation into the incident at Saints and Stars gym, and for the company to be blacklisted in order to prevent the possible abuse of other Filipinos in the future.

Migrante Netherlands also called on the Philippine embassy to provide financial and housing assistance to the affected workers while their case is still pending.

“This case clearly has elements of human trafficking and forced labor. The use of deception, abuse of vulnerable migrant workers, and placing them in such a situation without contracts and legal protection is a blatant violation of human rights and international labor laws,” the group said.

Migrante Netherlands said the 11 OFWs were recruited through the Facebook group “Filipinos in the Netherlands,” enticing them with promises of legal work permits, free accommodation and decent wages, before having them work long hours without contracts, payslips or legal documentation.

The group noted that the passports of the workers were also taken by their employer, who had promised to arrange their legal work permits.

“Many of them previously had decent work and permits in other European countries, such as Hungary and Czech Republic, but they left these after they were enticed by the offer of Saints and Stars,” Migrante Netherlands said. /cb