Government urged to intensify campaign vs human trafficking

MANILA, Philippines - Deputy Speaker Lorenzo Tañada III yesterday urged concerned government agencies to intensify their campaign against human trafficking and illegal recruitment.

He said the Department of Justice, Bureau of Immigration, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, and other labor agencies should be tougher on illegal recruiters and human smugglers.

He reminded these offices that the Philippines is still in the United States’ watch list on trafficking in persons for allegedly failing to comply with minimum standards in fighting human trafficking.

Tañada said the concerned authorities have to do more so the country would be removed from the watch list.

He suggested that the House review the performance of these agencies in combating illegal recruitment and human smuggling. 

Rep. Mel Sarmiento of Western Samar said the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Department of Labor should play a more active role in dealing with foreign employers who accept smuggled workers.

Akbayan Rep. Walden Bello said the DFA should monitor the performance of labor attachés and other diplomatic personnel, many of whom have been accused of ignoring the pleas for help of distressed workers.

He cited the case of 11 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) that were duped into accepting dubious employment contracts by a Manila-based recruitment agency.

He said the recruiter told the workers that they would work in the United States for Aramak, supposedly a Fortune 500 company, under a “seasonal work program” with a guaranteed salary of $7.25 to $8 per hour.

“Instead, the OFWs ended up working for a hospitality services company for $4.75 per room. They were made to clean at least 14 rooms a day, when the most they could humanly accomplish was 10 rooms,” he said.

Bello said the workers escaped last September and sought the help of labor and diplomatic officers assigned in Los Angeles, California. He said the Filipino officers allegedly refused to help the distressed OFWs.