OFW: Overstaying Filipino Worker

Being an Overseas Filipino worker (OFW) connotes legality with corresponding responsibilities. The problem is when an OFW violates the basic requirement of his contract—the tenure—and becomes an “overstaying” Filipino worker (the other version of OFW).

Unfortunately, some OFWs decide to violate the law and stay on illegally.  Are they willing to face the consequences?

Conrado Mateo Jr. recently appealed for the intervention of Bantay OCW. He told Atty. Dante Mercado, Senior Deputy Director of Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) at Radyo Inquirer that his wife and his son have been overstaying in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for the past seven years.  He complained about the very slow repatriation of his wife and son by the Philippine government. His wife had a health condition, he added.

Another caller, Cecilia Dizon, also sought help for the repatriation of her husband and an adopted Muslim child in Jeddah, where they had been overstaying for 14 years.

They want to take advantage of the amnesty but feel there is a “palakasan” (influence peddling) system in the Philippine Consulate.

Cecilia admitted that she herself overstayed in Jeddah for 14 years.  According to her, she bore the pain of her horrifying experiences as an illegal alien until she was caught, imprisoned and deported by Saudi authorities.

To stay illegally was Cecilia’s choice. She consciously and fearlessly decided to stay on in Jeddah after her contract ended, unmindful of the consequences of her decisions.

Some OFWs, once they experience the perks of life overseas, forget the responsibility that goes with it.

Some OFWs don’t want to go home anymore. Consciously, they violate the immigration laws of a foreign country for as long as they can get away with it. When caught and the full force of the law is applied on them, they blame our government.

There is really nothing wrong with leaving our country for high-paying jobs abroad as long as a  labor migrant is covered by legal papers and he or she does not violate the laws of the host country.

According to migration anthropologist Dr. Clement Camposano, the wage differential—which is sometimes 10 times more than what a worker will receive here for the same job—is the primary reason why many  Filipinos choose to work abroad.

But if our OFWs choose to stay on after their contracts end, should they rely on government to bring them home?

They should save money to prepare themselves for any eventualities in the future. Compulsory Insurance Coverage for Agency-Hired Workers may also cover return costs if the worker is terminated without valid cause.

Filipinos overstaying in Japan call themselves “bilog” or O—meaning “overstaying.” But they are known to be always prepared with money in their pockets to buy their plane tickets, if apprehended by immigration authorities.

What about those overstaying in other countries? Why do they rely on our government to bring them home?

Our government should be more discerning in handling cases of OFWs who intentionally break the law. They may have assumed that the government will protect them if they are caught. Some resort to pushing the administration against the wall, as if the government was responsible for their illegal acts.

Our government officials should not be afraid of losing OFW votes  only because they were not able to repatriate them. They should not tolerate and allow these unambiguous violations of  the laws of foreign lands because we, too,  implement our own immigration laws strictly in the Philippines.

Individual responsibility is at issue here. Overstaying Filipino workers should be responsible for securing their return trip home and save themselves—and the taxpayers—a terrible agony.

Susan Andes, a.k.a. Susan K,  is on board at Radyo Inquirer DWIQ 990 AM Monday to Friday 7-8:30 p.m

Susan K’s Helplines: 5357209, 8818423,  09192140699

Email: [email protected] / [email protected]