Labor Trafficking in the Philippines

The Philippines is one of the great labor exporters of the world. 10 % of its total population  are now migrant workers in other countries.  With remittances totaling some $20 billion a year, the Philippines places fourth as a recipient of remittances, after China, India, and Mexico.

The labor export program began in the mid-seventies as a temporary program under the Marcos dictatorship, with a relatively small number of workers involved–some 50,000 OFW (overseas foreign workers : www.moderndayslavesmovie.com).  It ballooned to 11 million as of 2011. 

Those who migrate are often among the most intelligent, sharp people in the lower and middle classes, those that can contribute to movements for change.  Along with the crisis of socialization of children owing to the absence of the mother, this is one of the most damaging legacies of the massive labor migration in the Philippines. 

Modern day Slavery : Sexual Abuse

A recruiter from Manila hired a recruiter to go to remote provinces to recruit a young woman promising a wage of $600 a month. When this OFW  departs, the recruiter gives her another contract at the airport before living ,  saying she will be paid only half or less that amount.
Upon arrival in the destination, she is provided by the host country's  recruiter with a temporary residence permit, but this is taken from her along with her passport by the recruiter or by her employer.  She will be  turned over to a family where she labors under slave-like conditions, being expected to work 18 to 20 hours a day.

Surprisingly, it includes servicing the sexual needs of the master of the house, which creates an unbearable situation, she will received beatings if she refused.  She will be isolated from other Filipino domestic workers, making her communication with the outside world dependent on her employer. She cannot leave the employer because her temporary residence certificate and passport are with the master of the house or the wife.  If she runs away,  and goes to the labor recruiter, she is “sold” to another family, sometimes at an even lower rate than that paid by the original employer (http://www.moderndayslavesmovie.com/).

Unable to leave the country since she has no documents, the runaway most often ends up being sold from one family to another by the labor recruiter.

The predominance of women among the workers being trafficked to the Middle East has created a situation rife with sexual abuse, and a system whereby labor trafficking and sexual trafficking are increasing intersecting.

With a great number— in the case of the Philippines—the majority of migrant workers being women, are rape and sold as a sex slaves has become a central element in the system of unfree labor, in particular in labor trafficking in the Middle East, Hongkong, UK and other host countries.

Ending labor trafficking is a MASSIVE challenge to government and the society. "  The Philippine government must create decent jobs that would absorb our workers overseas" suggested by  Gary Martinez - Chairperson Migrante International.  

Is there hope from the government,  private sectors, NGO's, and business leaders  to push necessary social economic reforms to end labor trafficking in the Phillipines? 

Your thoughts.....