Over 260,000 Pinoys live in modern slavery – report

MANILA, Philippines - An estimated 261,200 Filipinos still live in modern slavery, according to a recent survey conducted by Australian-based human rights groups.

The Philippines ranked 103rd out of 167 countries in the 2014 Global Slavery Index released by the Walk Free Foundation yesterday.

The report defines slaves as people subject to forced labor, debt bondage, trafficking, sexual exploitation for money and forced or servile marriage.

“Filipino women are often subject to forced labor, have no access to their passport, limited rights and experience sexual and physical abuse by employer,” the report said.

“Filipino workers are also vulnerable to forced labor and involuntary servitude in the sex industry throughout Asia and the Middle East,” it said.

The Philippines, however, has addressed some recommendations made in the 2013 Global Slavery Index, and as a result continued to be a regional leader in victim support and protection, particularly for overseas Filipino workers, the report said.

The government’s response to slavery was ranked 29th out of 167 countries.

The country received a rating of BB. A country that has received a rating of BB has introduced a response to modern slavery, which includes short-term victim support services, a criminal justice framework that criminalizes some forms of modern slavery, a body to coordinate the response and protections for those vulnerable to modern slavery.

In 2013, the Philippine government increased protection for nationals working abroad through the establishment of 15 multi-agency Filipino workers’ resource centers to assist workers in 36 countries with populations of 20,000 or more Filipino workers.

“Despite these efforts, the Batas Kasambahay, which is the national legal instrument aligning laws with the Domestic Workers Convention (ILO 198), the government still faces challenges in implementing protection,” the report said.