Latest news with #FilipinoWorkers
Khaleej Times
6 days ago
- Khaleej Times
'Waited for hours': Some Filipino workers frustrated after thousands throng Dubai event
What was meant to be a streamlined public service event for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the UAE turned into a source of frustration for many attendees, after the OFW Serbisyo Caravan held at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) on Sunday, August 3, drew unexpected crowds and criticism for "poor organisation". Organised by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), the event was scheduled to run from 8am to 6pm, aiming to bring together key government agencies under one roof to assist Filipinos with various services, such as legal aid, financial support, and welfare counselling. But the experience for many turned out to be far from smooth. Several OFWs described the event as 'disorganised and overwhelming', citing long queues, a lack of direction, and overcrowded conditions. One resident, who asked to remain anonymous, recounted his experience to Khaleej Times. 'My friend and I arrived at the venue at 8.30am, thinking we were early enough to beat the crowds, but the line was already snaking around the building,' the 28-year-old shared. 'There was no one guiding us, no signs, no system. We just followed the crowd and hoped we were going the right way.' The Ajman resident said he ended up walking aimlessly through the hot halls with no clear directions. 'I ended up in a room packed with people. It was hot and overcrowded,' he said. 'At one point, we were just standing in line in the hallway for three hours outside the hall." He and his companion finally completed their transactions by 7pm, nearly 11 hours after they arrived. 'We were thankful to be assisted eventually, and there were some seats and a food vendor inside.' Some attendees also pointed out that all the services — ranging from registering for Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) to contract verification — were clustered into one space, which led to further confusion. 'There were no clear signs and no separation of services. People didn't know where to go or which line to join,' Dubai-based expat Maria T. said. H.T., another OFW, noted that although she scanned a QR code to receive a digital queue number, there was "no system in place" to enforce the order. "People continued lining up wherever they wanted. When I finally got into the hall, it was more chaos inside." According to her, even as they exited the venue at 7pm, long queues still remained. 'Some had already given up and gone home. It wasn't what we expected.' Not everyone, however, had a negative experience. K.A., another attendee, said the crowd outside appeared hectic but things improved inside. 'The flow was actually very quick. I got my contract verified and managed to register with OWWA without any issues,' she said. She shared that, while there were no clear directions at the start, she was able to avoid most of the chaos because she got there early and knew her way to Hall 8. K.A. shared that she got to the World Trade Centre at 6am because she already anticipated the long lines. "There was no metro service yet, so there were fewer people,' she shared. 'I queued from 6am to 10am. The crowd really started to build around 8am, and from then on, it got really crowded." Unexpected turnout John Rio A. Bautista, Labor Attaché of the Migrant Workers Office Dubai, acknowledged the negative feedback. According to him, the event saw an unexpectedly high turnout of nearly 6,000 individuals — far exceeding their initial estimate of 2,000. The event was organised in partnership with the Filipino Social Club, which saw 200 members volunteer to assist with the event. When the turnout exceeded expectations, crowd control measures were implemented. "DMW officials, Consul General Marford Angeles of PCG Dubai, and the President of the Filipino Social Club (FilSoc) personally met with representatives from the Dubai World Trade Centre, the Community Development Authority (CDA), and Dubai Police to help manage order," he explained. "Ambassador Alfonso Ver also took the lead in speaking with attendees at the hall entrances and helping organise the queues to manage the flow of people. Announcements were made regularly during the programme to inform them of alternative solutions." According to Bautista, in DMW's effort to make services accessible to more people, it did not make pre-registration mandatory on the assumption that turnout would mirror previous events, where only about half of those who registered actually showed up. However, this decision, combined with wide online promotion and social media traction, led to an unmanageable surge of walk-ins. Need for improved planning Despite the chaos, the DMW reported that all clients who opted to wait were eventually served — with the final transaction completed at 1.45am the following day: Monday, August 4. A total of 5,742 individuals were assisted, and over 11,383 transactions were recorded. The agency acknowledged the need for improved planning moving forward, including implementing strict pre-registration, limiting daily capacity per service, and potentially expanding the event across multiple emirates or extending it over several days. "Despite our good intentions to cater to as many clients as possible, it is crucial to set the limit by requiring pre-registration per individual agency's set limit," said Bautista. He noted that a proposal is already in place to hold the next Caravan in Abu Dhabi, with a longer duration to better accommodate demand.
GMA Network
30-07-2025
- GMA Network
DMW signs MOA with IBP, Tiktok to further efforts on OFW welfare
IBP President and Chair Attorney Allan Panolong and DMW Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac shakes hands after signing a Memorandum of Agreement for the protection of overseas Filipino workers. Photo from Jiselle Anne Casucian, GMA Integrated News The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) on Wednesday signed a memorandum of agreement with the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) and Tiktok Philippines to provide legal assistance and a platform for easy access to information for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs). During the signing, DMW Assistant Secretary Jerome Alcantara noted that many OFWs were in need of protection from various forms of abuse. 'We thank [the IBP] for an agreement that ensures access to the legal assistance and justice for the OFWs who may be vulnerable to trafficking, abuse, or labor violations. We thank IBP for standing with us to ensure that no OFW face legal paths alone,' he said. DMW Undersecretary for Licensing and Adjudication Services Bernard Olalia had shared that they handled more than 300 illegal recruitment cases so far in 2025, along with 27 human trafficking cases and 18 closure orders. 'What is important is whether it's online scam or non-online scam, our direction is to get through the process by rendering justice to our OFWs and being there to make sure na yung mga OFWs will be provided with all the assistance they need,' he said. IBP President and Chair Attorney Allan Panolong said their lawyers are willing to serve without charge, and that they were ready to assist as defenders of human rights. 'Every legal service provided is a step work, building society that is in favor, more implacable and more caring. What upholds the dignity of every Filipino. Through this collaboration, we embody the true spirit of service to the nation. We cannot say our efforts are complete if there are fellow Filipinos crying out for justice,' he said. Agreements between the DMW and IBP included public awareness efforts on rights of OFWs, joint discussions on migrant worker protection, studies on human rights issues affecting OFW, individual case referrals to appropriate legal intervention, joint response operations to violation cases, and free legal aid and rights education. 'We're fighting crime, we're fighting the wrongdoers, we're fighting those who prosecute or do harm to our OFWs. We're fighting for our OFWs who need protection, who need the legal arm of the law… It's really not just helping them file cases,' said DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac. 'We really need to help [OFWs] be guided by all these relevant law, laws that are very important to them,' he added. Meanwhile, the partnership between DMW and TikTok Philippines made way for intricate and further information efforts to combat illegal job recruitment, among others. The partnership between the two entities involve filtering of accounts with illegal recruitment or trafficking activities, joint awareness campaigns, promotion of verified accounts as trusted sources, training for identification of illegal recruitment and trafficking schemes, and further policy discussions on online safety and OFW protection. Tiktok Philippines also shared that they are working on a special leg of their #ThinkTwice campaign with the DMW, placing a primary focus on identifying and avoiding online job scams. 'Ensuring a safe space also means empowering our users to be more responsible over the content they consume, create, and share… We are honored to partner with the Department of Migrant Workers because our commitment is something that they share. The protection of all Filipino users, especially OFWs on our platform,' said Tiktok Philippines Public Policy Manager Peachy Paderna. 'Our goal is to safeguard and empower Filipinos with the tools to think critically online, recognize this information, and stay protected from online recruitment scams and other digital risks. We are actively and closely working with the DMW. We hope to keep overseas job seekers informed, empowered, and safe so they can focus on building a better life for their loved ones,' she added. Cacdac noted that the partnership with TIktok fell in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. 's marching orders to enhance OFW welfare, protection, and empowerment. 'The message can be so simple as to finding illegal recruitment, maging matalino, wag magpaloko… All these things can be a venue for delivering so many simple messages, so many videos that we can all create together, and Tiktok is a powerful messenger for that,' he said. The DMW Secretary also shared that in signing both the TikTok and IBP agreements, the agency was able to show that there was a 'strategic complimentary approach' to protecting Filipino migrant workers. 'They remind us that no single solution exists to end trafficking. What we need is a whole of society approach, where law, media, government, private sector, and civil society emerge to uphold the rights of Filipinos and this is very well-reflected in the leadership and approach under the Bagong Pilipinas approach of our dear President,' Cacdac said. 'The Department of Migrant Workers, we carry the mandate not only to deploy but to defend not only to facilitate opportunities but fortify protections… and we cannot do it alone. Together, let us build a world where every Filipino who dreams of working abroad can do so with dignity, with protection, and with pride,' he continued. — BAP, GMA Integrated News
South China Morning Post
22-07-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Marcos slammed for ‘inexcusable' snub of Filipino-American community during US visit
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr is facing a wave of criticism from migrant advocates and Filipino Americans over what they see as his failure to defend overseas workers caught in the widening immigration crackdown by US President Donald Trump's administration. Marcos is in Washington for a three-day state visit culminating in high-stakes trade and security talks with Trump on Tuesday. He and his entourage were met by more than 100 protesters on Sunday and Monday, gathered outside both the White House and Blair House, where the Philippine delegation has been staying. Demonstrators accused the president of ignoring urgent immigration issues, including raids, detentions and deportations of Filipino workers, while making time to court US defence officials and business leaders. 'It is inexcusable that he would not make time to visit his own citizens while we are faced with immigration crackdowns, rights violations in detention centres, looming taxes on remittances and many more attacks on migrant communities under the Trump presidency,' Andan Bagoyo, chairman of Bayan USA, a progressive alliance of Filipino organisations, told This Week in Asia. The United States is home to the world's largest Filipino diaspora, with 4.1 million people of Filipino descent as of 2022. Nearly half are immigrants. But no meetings with community representatives have been scheduled during Marcos' visit, which began on Sunday. According to Philippine foreign affairs officials, the president's itinerary simply did not allow for it, as 'it's a very short visit'.
Russia Today
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Russian speakers a risk compared to pro-Western Filipinos
Lithuania's defense minister has lashed out at Russian-speaking migrants, calling them a security threat while comparing them to 'pro-Western' Filipinos. The country, along with its Baltic neighbors, has for years sought to phase out the Russian language spoken by a significant part of the population. Dovile Sakaliene made the comments on Wednesday after meeting with Hans Cacdac, the Philippines Secretary of Migrant Workers, to discuss labor migration. The defense minister, however, used the opportunity to warn that an 'unprecedented number of Russian-speaking migrants from post-Soviet states raise national security concerns for Lithuania.' Sakaliene praised Filipino workers as 'English speaking, Catholic, pro-Western… famous for high skills, great work ethics, & willingness to learn the language of the host country.' About 5% of Lithuania's population, or roughly 141,000 people, identify as ethnic Russians, with around 190,000 people saying Russian is their native language. Meanwhile, over 60% of the total population is Russian-speaking, mostly due to the Soviet legacy. Lithuania's Migration Department last year reported over 227,000 foreign residents, over 80,000 of whom are Ukrainians, followed by approximately 60,000 Belarusians and 15,000 Russians. Only 774 Filipino citizens held residence permits in the country at the start of this year, though that figure has more than tripled since 2023. Lithuania has for years sought to sever cultural ties with Russia, with the efforts intensifying after the escalation of the Ukraine conflict. Last year, Education Minister Gintautas Jakstas proposed phasing out Russian-language secondary schooling, arguing that Lithuania should not use the languages of 'unfriendly countries' in its classrooms. The idea, however, has faced pushback, particularly from Vaiva Vezelyte-Pokladova, the head of the National Minorities Policy Analysis, who warned against 'marginalization of one nationality.' This spring, Lithuanian authorities issued a report listing Russia, Belarus and China, as top security threats. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova mocked the designation, quipping that the document 'forgot to mention holy water and wooden stakes' as potential threats. Moscow has repeatedly dismissed speculation that it is planning to attack NATO, stating that it has no interest in doing so.
GMA Network
14-06-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
Filipino seafarers invest in the Philippines. They shouldn't be punished for it.
In mid-2020, Philippine media reported the arrival of a flight carrying the remains of 49 Filipino migrant workers who had died from COVID-19. State officials had spent months finding ways to have their bodies returned home. In his statement to reporters, then-Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III was noticeably sombre, 'It's very painful to welcome dead heroes who served their families and country well,' he said. When I shared this story to Nilo, a cruise worker who lost his job during the pandemic, he wondered if he, too, should have returned to the Philippines dead, instead of alive and unemployed. Unlike those who had died overseas, no one considered him a 'hero.' 'We're more like those soldiers who went off to war, got wounded, then were sent home,' he scoffed. 'You served the nation, but now, you're no use to anyone because you lost your leg and can't even walk.' Nilo's response reflects the struggles that Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) face when forced to return home. While the Philippines celebrates migrants for their contributions, we often fail to recognize their worth beyond their remittances. Still, I found the bitterness in Nilo's statement concerning. While all migrant workers contribute to the Philippine economy, seafarers, I would argue, are among the most committed to the nation. Yet, it is clear that they do not have the support they need within their own country. A career prone to disruption When Filipino seafarers set sail, they're not just chasing higher wages. They're investing in a life back home. Working in an oil tanker or a luxury cruise ship does not open doors to long-term residency or citizenship elsewhere. Unlike nurses and teachers, sea-based careers run on short-term contracts, roughly 4 to 10 months at a time. And unlike domestic workers, seafarers return home more frequently, cycling between the Philippines and their work at sea. As such, their dreams are mostly anchored within the country: a small business, a new house, or a good education for their children. It is true that seafaring pays higher wages than many jobs in the Philippines, but this profession is also vulnerable to disruption. The COVID-19 pandemic was a stark reminder of how little support there is in helping them weather such crises. As a sociologist, I followed the experiences of Filipino service staff employed in the global cruise industry. The cruise workers I interviewed were retrenched during the pandemic and only returned to their jobs two years later, heavily in debt and working to stay afloat. Like other Filipinos, they struggled with the sudden loss of income. But, I found that the main cause of their financial distress was the very investments that were supposed to secure their futures. Risky investments When the travel industry shut down, cruise workers turned to home businesses and part-time work to get by. While they managed to cover their daily expenses, their biggest expenses were insurance premiums and monthly payments on land, property, and cars. Philippine government officials had promoted these investments as a 'smart' way to maximize migrant remittances, and cruise workers readily bought into these ventures. Few were warned that these investments relied on regular payments and there were no concessions for unforeseen disruptions. In the first few months of the pandemic, cruise workers tried to keep up with these fees, dipping into hard-earned savings and borrowing money from friends. A year later, they were defaulting on monthly payments, selling their things, and for many, letting banks repossess their property. Glaiza, a massage therapist in her ship's spa, lost a house that she had been paying for the last four years. 'Sumama talaga loob ko (I felt bad),' she lamented. 'Hindi ko naman kasalanan nawalan kami ng trabaho! (It wasn't my fault that I lost my job.)' While it is easy to point the blame at migrants' lack of financial literacy, perhaps what we should consider is how the smart investments we encourage seafarers to consider were what put them in debt. Nasaan ang programa namin? One might argue that Philippine government agencies did have programs specifically directed at seafarers. However, available grants were overwhelmingly focused on entrepreneurship and livelihood projects. While a benefit to some, most cruise workers were intimidated by the multiple requirements for training and business plans. Already stressed over their own bills, the idea of embarking on a new business venture seemed impractical. Rather than new investment 'opportunities,' cyclical migrants like cruise workers need a stronger safety net in times of disruption. Life insurance may help cope with an untimely death, but it doesn't address the issues that come with sudden retrenchment or a canceled contract. During the pandemic, cruise workers saw unemployment benefits from Philippines' Social Security System as much more helpful compared to small business grants. While these benefits came in small amounts, they addressed workers' immediate needs. The COVID-19 pandemic was unprecedented in many ways, but the hardships that Filipino seafarers faced reflect a bigger, ongoing problem: the lack of meaningful protections and support for migrant workers who are invested in the nation. Yasmin Y. Ortiga is an Associate Professor of Sociology at Singapore Management University. Excerpts from this column are taken from her latest book, "Stuck at Home: Pandemic Immobilities in the Nation of Emigration" (Stanford University Press).
