"They are not mere statistics that we rely on for economic growth."
Last week, the remains of the slain Filipina overseas worker arrived in Manila. Jeanelyn Villavende worked as a domestic helper in Kuwait for only five months before her death last December. She died in a hospital from severe injuries after being reportedly beaten by her employer. Local autopsy reports show that prior to her death, she was also sexually abused.
Ms. Villavende is just one of the many Filipinas working abroad who suffered and died from the hands of their employers. Every year, tens of thousands of Filipina household service workers are deployed. For many years, the women are the common victims of maltreatment, sexual harassment, poor working conditions, and unfair labor practices.
Our OFWs live with that fact. Skilled women workers, however, have seldom experienced discrimination, abuse, and harassment. The ill treatment is common among household service workers or domestic help workers due to the inferior perception of their foreign employers towards them.
It can be recalled in 2018 that the Philippines signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Kuwait for the protection of our OFWs after President Rodrigo Duterte issued a temporary ban on deployment of unskilled workers. This move was triggered by the discovery of the body of an overseas Filipina worker stored in a freezer in the said country, and the increasing cases of such women suffering from assaults, inhumane treatment, or such horrible death from the hands of their employers. The said agreement ensures that workers are given food, housing, clothing, health insurance, and a mechanism providing 24-hour assistance. The rights of workers to keep their passports and use their mobile phones are also protected. Legal and repatriation assistance shall also be provided by the host country.
Sadly, until now, the agreement has not effectively deterred foreign employers from abusing our Filipina workers.
Let us call to mind the significant contribution of our OFWs to the nation’s progress. During the last quarter of 2019, the increased OFW remittances contributed to consumer spending which accounted for two-thirds of the country’s gross domestic product. As I have said before, OFWs remain one of the primary drivers of our economic growth. Being away from their loved ones is already a big sacrifice for them. It is disheartening that aside from this, their plight is aggravated by the abusive treatment they receive from their employers and foreign citizens.
I call for intensifying the protection of the rights and welfare of our OFWs, especially the Filipina household/domestic workers. Let us not wait for another Ms. Villavende or Ms. Demafelis before we boldly assert their rights. I strongly urge the government to step up and firmly uphold and defend the rights of our OFWs and seek the justice they truly deserve. Given the discrepancy in the autopsy reports, I anticipate a proactive stance from the government. We must see to it that the perpetrators of this heinous crime be lawfully and rightfully penalized. Moving forward, perhaps we should refine and enhance existing agreements and MOUs for more stringent provisions to pressure host countries to faithfully implement and adhere to the agreements. Moreover, agencies concerned with OFW welfare should strictly enact the policies established for their protection.
Our OFWs are not mere statistics that we rely on for economic growth. These Filipinos have families lovingly waiting and longing for them. They have dreams, mostly to lift their families out of poverty. Apart from preserving international relations, let us accord our OFWs priority in safeguarding their rights, safety, and overall welfare. The government should be magnanimous in extending protection towards them. After all, they are the country’s modern heroes. Let them come home, head high, spirits whole, and hearts full.