Bill seeks stiff penalties for government execs who fail to help OFWs in distress

Senate President Manuel Villar Jr. wants stiff penalties for consular officials and other government personnel assigned in overseas posts who fail to act on complaints or give prompt assistance to Filipino migrant workers.

Through Senate Bill No. 1879, Villar seeks tougher sanctions against erring overseas officials by amending Republic Act 8042 or the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995, which “has not entirely lived up to its intended purpose.”

“Filipinos abroad continue to suffer under abusive employers, inhuman working conditions and various human rights violations,” he said.

“Everytime a Filipino encounters problems he or she seeks assistance from various posts abroad but some concerned officials fail to extend assistance,” Villar pointed out.

“Unfortunately, the law does not chastise or penalize any government official in the consular, labor and welfare services who fails or refuses to give assistance to Filipino migrant workers,” he noted.

“It is hoped that instituting penalties for errant government officials posted abroad shall ensure their adherence to their duties and responsibilities,” the Senate president said.

His proposal, he added, “aims to give our compatriots some assurance that their fundamental rights and freedoms shall not at anytime be compromised or violated.”

The penalties and sanctions that he hopes to insert into RA 8042 would be without prejudice to the filing of criminal charges against the erring officials, he said. The sanctions range from suspension for at least 30 days to dismissal from service and forfeiture of retirement and other benefits depending on the gravity of offense.

Social protection

Meanwhile, a non-government organization monitoring poverty eradication, gender equality, and other social indicators has asked the government to implement an effective social protection mechanism for OFWs and small entrepreneurs, particularly those in the so-called informal economy.

The Social Watch Philippines said putting in place such protection mechanism would help the government realize its targets under the United Nation’s Millennium Development Goals.

He said the scheme could be made possible by realigning certain government funds and expanding the coverage of the Social Security System and Government Service Insurance System.

Based on the Global Social Watch Report for 2007 released recently, the Philippines’ political, economic, and even geographic realities indicate that the country still has a long way to go in providing full and equitable social benefits to all its citizens despite existing security programs that have been in place for decades.

It said that the country’s social security programs are categorized into social insurance, pensions, and other forms of long-term savings, social safety nets, welfare and social payments, and labor market interventions.

“But coverage is incomplete and delivery is diffused.  Financing remains uncertain and is vulnerable to corruption,” said the report on Social Protection in the Philippines written by Dr. Eduardo Gonzales.

Prof. Leonor Magtolis Briones, co-convenor of Social Watch Philippines, said even OFWs, despite their huge contribution to the economy in the form of remittances, get little social protection.