International Labor Migration - January-March 2009

INTERNATIONAL LABOR MIGRATION -- JANUARY-MARCH 2009

PHILIPPINE SITUATION

Stimulus story:Obama’s vs Arroyo’s

Remember “narrow, shallow and hollow?” For many years, I have been using these three adjectives to describe the country’s economic growth. It’s this kind of growth that increased the number of poor from 23.8 million (30 percent of Filipinos) in 2003 to 27.6 million (33 percent) in 2006 (and certainly more so now), right when the economy supposedly grew at its most rapid pace in decades. This time, there are three contrasting adjectives making the rounds: “Broader, deeper and longer.” Unfortunately, they don’t describe the economy’s growth. They are being used widely to describe the current recession (translation: Shrinking economies) being suffered by the rich countries, and thereby also describe the unfolding difficulties of the global economy including small economies like ours. (Cielito F. Habito-No Free Lunch, Phil. Daily Inquirer 03-02-09)

OFW remittances drop slightly to $1.26 billion in January

Remittances from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) went down slightly by 0.1 percent to $1.260 billion in January from $1.264 billion a year ago as Filipino workers abroad began to feel the pinch of the global economic crunch, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported yesterday.

On a month-on-month basis, the January inflow was substantially lower than the December remittances of $1.407 billion.

In terms of growth rate, the decline in January was a complete turnaround from the double-digit growth rate of 15 percent in January 2008.(Des Ferriols, The Philippine Star, 03-17-09)

Jobless rate rises to 7.7% in January

As of January, there were some 2.8 million unemployed. Data from the NSO showed that 37.1 million Filipinos had entered the labor force, of which 34.3 million got jobs.

About 275,000 people lost their jobs since October and the latest quarterly report from the statistics office showed unemployment turning higher after falling last year.

The Philippines’ jobless rate is the second highest among the biggest Southeast Asian economies, behind Indonesia, which reported its latest unemployment rate for August 2008 as 8.4 percent.

The government says that about a third of the 90-million population is poor, calculated as families of five living on less than the equivalent of $3 a day. (By Ronnel Domingo, With Reuters, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 03-17-09)

Focus on health jobs urged

The impact of the crisis on the US health sector would affect Filipino registered nurses, health-care workers and physicians—who make up roughly 34 percent of total Filipino workers in the US labor force—whether through retrenchments or cut in salaries and benefits,” Ibon said in a statement.

Women are also concentrated in the lower levels of these global supply chains; in casual, temporary, subcontracted and informal employment, where workers are insecure, wages low, working conditions poor and workers are least likely to be protected by conventional social insurance systems

Director Dennis Arroyo of Neda’s National Planning and Policy Staff (NPPS) said data from the Department of Labor and Employment showed around 5,700 OFW and 42,000 domestic workers were laid off from work as of March 4, 2009. (By Cai U. Ordinario / Reporter, Business Mirror(online space), 03-08-09)

Intel shuts down RP plant –DOLE sees 60,000 more IT jobs lost

Struggling with falling personal computer demand, Intel Corp., the world biggest maker of microprocessors, will shut down this year its assembly test facility in Cavite that employs some 1,800 workers. Labor Secretary Marianito Roque said the government was giving counseling and retraining to “about 60,000 workers that could be affected nationwide.” (Philippine Daily Inquirer ,01-23-09, By Abigail L. Ho)

Over 3,000 lose jobs in C. Luzon

City of San Fernando—At least 3,368 workers in Central Luzon lost their jobs while others worked fewer hours from Dec. 2008 up to Feb. 6 after 39 export-oriented firms in the region struggled to cope with global financial crisis. Of 8,838 affected workers in Central Luzon 7,296 came from 27 establishments based in four major economic zones in the region. The biggest job losses, so far occurred at the Luisita Industrial Park in Tarlac where two electronic firms retrenched 1,992 employees. (Philippine Daily Inquirer, Tonette Orejas, Inquirer Central Luzon, W/ Villamor Visaya Jr., 02-09-09)

600 more workers in Central Visayas lose jobs

DOLE regional director Ellas Cayanong said majority of the affected workers were from Cebu, who lost their jobs as several companies cut costs. In 2008, Cayanong said 5,700 workers in the region lost their jobs, and most of them from furniture, gifts, toys and hardware companies. Those working at the Mactan Export Processing Zone (MEPZ). Especially from electronic manufacturing firms, were also affected due to continued slowdown of demand from overseas clients. He said many. MEPZ locators are adopting a short or compressed workweek with no overtime policy just to ensure that those who are currently employed will remain in their jobs. The DOLE also recently gave a P400,000 subsidy to the city government of Mandaue to be used for livelihood programs for displaced workers in the city. (The Philippine Star, By Michelle Palaubsanon. Freeman News Service, 02-14-09)

OFW ban in five countries stays

Vice President and Presidential Adviser on OFWs Noli de Castro said yesterday the Philippine government’s ban on the deployment of Filipino workers to Jordan, Afghanistan, Nigeria, Iraq and Lebanon stays. The ban in five countries stands, following the arrival in Manila last Friday night of 87 Filipino workers illegally recruited to Beirut. The Filipino workers who arrived recently reportedly suffered abuse at the hands of their Lebanese employers. De Castro directed the Task Force Against Illegal Recruitment (TFAIR) which he also heads, to go after recruiters victimizing OFWs and asked for full cooperation of victims. (The Philippine Star, By Pia Lee-Brago, 01-11-09)

BI forms task force vs human trafficking

The Bureau of Immigration has formed a special task force to fight human traffickers and illegal recruiter in the various international airports and sub ports in the country. The BI commissioner Marcelino Libanan issued Memorandum Order No. MCL-09-002 on Friday creating the BI special task force on human trafficking and anti-illegal recruitment. (The Philippine Star, By Rudy Santos, 01-18-09)

GMA bares P1-B livelihood fund for displaced workers

President Arroyo announced that a P1 billion livelihood support fund for displaced overseas Filipino workers is now available. The President ordered Labor Secretary Roque to ensure that the implementation of the program for displaced Filipino workers abroad would be simple and not complicated. Mrs. Arroyo told OFWs in Bahrain that the Filipino Expatriate Livelihood Support Fund (FELSF) would come from the OWWA. Dimzon said the FELSF is being implemented purposely to provide P10, 000 grants for displaced workers to put up their own business and an additional capital of P50, 000. (The Philippine Star, Jess Diaz, 02-05-09)

GMA’s 8-day trip 4-nation trip via US costs P123 million

President Macapagal-Arroyo’s latest trip overseas has cost taxpayers P123 million. Malacañang said the eight-day trip, including the Washington stopover, was “worth it” considering that Ms Arroyo supposedly got investment commitments of at least $1.7 billion. (Phil. Daily Inquirer, By Christian V. Esguerra and Ania Aquino, 02-12-09)

Ties that bind a string of scandal

First Gentleman Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo has been implicated in corruption scandals since his wife became Pres. in Jan. 2001. Just six moNth after Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo assumed the presidency, her former correspondence secretary, Veronica Rodrigo, accused Mike Arroyo and his friends of receiving a P40-million bribe to help recall a presidential veto on two congressional bills. (Phil. Daily Inquirer, By Cyril L. Bonabente, Inquirer research, 02-12-09)

Taiwan exempts RP from visa requirements

Taiwan has added the Philippines to its list of countries eligible for visa exemption.

Effective March 1, 2009, Philippine passport holders are exempted from visa requirements and can stay in Taiwan for 30 days, provided that they have never worked in Taiwan as blue-collar workers.

Aside from the Philippines, the visa exemption also applies to passport holders of India, Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia who also possess a valid visa or permanent residence certificate issued by the US, Canada, Japan, U.K., Schengen Convention countries, Australia or New Zealand. (Pia Lee Brago,Phil. Star, 03-22-09)

DSWD to debrief repatriated sex workers

A Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) official on Wednesday said the agency was considering the implementation of a “policy to hold” Filipina sex workers repatriated to the Philippines from Malaysia.

Finardo Cabilao, welfare attaché to Malaysia, said his proposal to “quarantine and debrief” the victims is aimed at stopping the vicious cycle of making victims out of Filipino women who go there to work..

Cabilao said his “policy to hold” proposal was being seriously considered by the DSWD, given the increasing number of Filipino women who fall prey to the sex trade once they set foot in Malaysia and become among the estimated 150,000 undocumented Filipino workers there.

Sixty-three Filipino women were rescued from brothels and sex dens by the Philippine Embassy from June to December last year and repatriated to the Philippines. Since January this year, 12 had been sent back home.

Cabilao stressed that victims of sex trafficking need psycho-social and medical debriefing. “It’s okay for them to return, but they should go through the legal process. Otherwise, the chances of being exploited would be higher. (Inquirer.net, 03/26/2009)

Senate condemns 'demeaning' OFW article

A resolution strongly condemning the "demeaning" Hong Kong magazine article that called the Philippines a "nation of servants" has been filed at the Senate.

Senate Resolution 955, initiated by Majority Floor Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, also urged the Department of Foreign Affairs to lodge a diplomatic protest against the publication and for the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency to look into the working conditions of the Filipino workers in Hong Kong.

He also challenged the writer, Chip Tsao, and other Chinese nationals of his kind to look into their past and see that there was no shame in being OFWs.

"He should do his research and he might find that his ancestors were OCWs as well," said Zubiri. (By Maila Ager, INQUIRER.net, 03/31/2009)

SC upholds OFW money claims

The Supreme Court has nullified a provision in the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipino Act of 1995 limiting money claims of illegally dismissed Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW).

In an en banc decision, the high court, through Associate Justice Alicia Austria-Martinez, said Section 10 of the law granting illegally dismissed overseas workers, among others, “salaries for the unexpired portion of his employment ontract or for three months for every year of the unexpired term whichever is less” has a discriminatory intent against, and an “invidious impact” on OFWs.

The high court said the different rule in computing money claims of illegally dismissed workers violated several provisions of the Constitution specifically Article 3 Section which provides that “no person shall be deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law nor shall any person be denied the equal protection of the law."

Section 18 Article 2 and Section 3 Article 13 of the Constitution, meanwhile, accord all members of the labor sector, without distinction as to place of deployment, full protection of their rights and welfare. (By Tetch Torres, INQUIRER.net, 03/31/2009)

Organ trade continues despite ban on transplantation to foreigners

In recent years, transplant center and establishments came under fire for their alleged involvement or complicity with middlemen in organ trafficking. In early 2008, the health department’s Bureau of Health Facilities and Services (BHFS) issued cease and desist orders (CDOs) against the Capitol Medical Center and the Victor Potenciano Medical Center for violating the rule requiring hospitals to limit the number of foreign transplantees to only 10 percent of total kidney transplant they conduct for the year. (By Gemma Bayuga, The Philippine Star, 03-09-09)

ASIA

How seafarers fare

The possibility of more Filipino seafarers losing jobs on Japanese ships is a looming possibility so the government entered into an agreement with the transport ministry of Japan to provide safety nets for our seafarers.

The program would be under the International Cooperative Training Project for Asian Seafarers and is aimed at preserving jobs for Filipino seafarers. Funding for the program would be determined by the specific program that would be developed.

At the same time, Japan Seaman’s Union pledged to provide social safety nets to other Filipino seafarers who may not be able to remain on board Japanese vessels due to the crisis.

Members of the union include about 35,000 to 45,000 Filipino seamen.

The global economic slow-down has left some 423 transport vessels laid up in various ports due to the lack of cargo. Japanese-owned ships are the top employers of Filipino seafarers, with some 50,000 Filipino officers and crew in their payroll. (By Johnna Villaviray-Giolagon, The Manila Times, 03-25-09)

1,000 more OFWS laid off in Taiwan

POEA chief Jennifer Manalili said the agency has recorded a total of 3,567 displaced OFWs as of Dec. 23, 2008, up from 2,287 displaced OFWS recorded on Dec. 16, 2008. Manalili noted that 3,321 of the displaced workers were employed in Taiwanese electronics firms which declared bankruptcy because of the global crisis. Based on the current trend, Roque said the labor department only expects less than a million Filipino workers to be displaced here in abroad. “We have 420,000 workers from the electronics industry and 120,000 from garments- these are the sectors that are likely to suffer from the economic crisis, but not all these workers will be displaced,” he explained. (The Philippine Star,Mayen Jaymalin , 01-06-09)

Malaysia seeks to cut of foreign workers

Kuala, Lumpur—Malaysia has banned the hiring of new foreign workers in the manufacturing and services sectors and fears the economic crisis will lead to more job losses for locals, reports said on Thursday. Home minister Syed Hamid Albar told the New Straits Times there was no reason to bring the foreigners after a human resources ministry report shoed 45,000 people would be laid off over Lunar New Year at the end of the month. “This is not the time of employers to ask for foreign workers. The first to be retrenched should be foreigners and not locals,” Syed Hamid told the paper.” There is no valid reason to bring in foreign workers at this time,” he added. The one million foreign workers currently in the two sectors will be allowed to work until their permits expire or they are laid off according to the Star daily. (Philippine Daily Inquirer, By AFP, 01-23-09)

Crisis deepens as downturn hits Asia

Beijing—Grim economic news from China and Japan showed the global crisis hitting ever harder yesterday, burning Asia’s champion exporters while data from the US signaled more pain to come. China’s powerhouse economy slowed dramatically at the end of 2008, dragging growth of the world’s third-largest economy to a seven-year-low, official data showed, in a striking sign of the current downturn’s strength and reach. Japan meanwhile warned it was facing a two-year recession and announced new measures to repair battered credit markets after announcing 35 percent plunge in exports in December. South Korea said its economy was in the worst shape since the East Asian financial crisis a decade ago while Singapore announced a $13-billion (10-billion-euro) stimulus package and said it would tap its vast financial reserves for the first time. On the industrial front, US software giant Microsoft said on Thursday it was cutting up to 5,000 jobs, over the next 18 months due to “the further deterioration of global economic conditions.” (The Philippine Star, By AFP, 01-24-09)

ILO: Jobless Asians to reach 113M in ‘09

The number of unemployed in Asia could swell to 113 million in 2009, or 22.3 million more than last year due to the global economic crisis, according to the most pessimistic scenario of the international (ILO). The UN agency yesterday said that Asia was likely to have 7.2 million more jobless people in 2009 than last year. In a report on the crisis’ fallout in the region, the ILO said the ranks of unemployed would likely balloon to 97 million in 2009 in Asia, the world economy’s star performer in recent years but where a third of the population still live on a little over US$1 a day. Some 51 million new jobs will be needed this year and the next to absorb Asia’s growing labor force, with most jobs needed in the region’s giant economies—20.3 million in India, 10.9 million in China and 3.6 million in Indonesia. (Kristine L. Alave,With reports from AP and Gil Cabacungan, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 02-19-09)

5,000 Pinoys deported from Sabah

Almost 5,000 Filipinos have been deported from Sabah and about 3,000 others are in detention centers in Sandakan in Malaysia, the BI reported yesterday. Immigration Commissioner Marcelino C. Libanan the bureau has processes the returned to the country of 4,847 Filipinos deported as a result of Malaysia’s continuing crackdown against illegal foreign workers. There could still be about 3,000 Filipinos being detained in Sandakan and awaiting deportation as they could not be deported due to lack for travel documents

(Philippine Daily Inquirer, By Michelle V. Remo and Kristine L. Alave, 01-30-09)

Japan detains Filipino in immigration row

TOKYO -- Japan detained a Filipino man on Monday and threatened to deport him and his family in an immigration row centered on his teenage daughter, a case that has drawn much public sympathy here.

The couple faces deportation because they entered the country on false passports nearly 17 years ago, but they have pleaded to be allowed to stay so their Japan-born daughter can finish her schooling in the country.

The government has said the 13-year-old daughter may stay in Japan alone but told her parents to leave. When a deadline passed on Monday, authorities detained her father, Arlan Cruz Calderon, 36.

The daughter Noriko Calderon, who only speaks Japanese, said: "I am very shocked my father was detained. I want them to return my father immediately."

(Agence France-Presse, 03-09-09)

Most Malaysians hiring maids illegally

More than 70 percent of employers in Malaysia hire illegal or “express” foreign maids, a Malaysian compact newspaper reported. Hamidah Omar, a foreign maid agency officer, was quoted as saying by Kosmo! that the problem had become an “epidemic” and should be taken very seriously by authorities. Employers chose “express” maids primarily because they were cheaper than those hired through the proper channels, she said.

The paper reported that syndicates provided “express” maids with agency fees of RM200 per person compared with the RM6,000 through registered agents. The maid’s salary, however, would remain at a minimum of RM500. (1 Malaysian Ringgit = 0.27301 US Dollar) (Asia News Network, 03-10-09)

MIDDLE EAST

Crisis idles Filipino workers in Dubai

Dubai—Lowly paid Filipino and other Asian workers who toil long days to build the skyscrapers of Dubai have become the latest victims of the global financial crisis as companies run short of business and money. A report issued earlier this month showed that $582-billion worth of building, projects in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), of which Dubai is a part, had been put on hold due to the slowdown. That was 45 percent of the total. Arnold, a 25-year-old Filipino machine operator, found a job in a small aluminum factory only two months after arriving in Dubai last summer. But in January, he and six others from the 15-strong workforce were laid off. (Philippine Daily Inquirer, AFP, 02-16-09)

66 Pinoys in Gaza to evacuate today

The first batch of Filipinos caught in the crossfire between Israeli troops and Hamas militants will be flown out of war-torn Gaza Strip. 66 Filipinos will comprise the group that will be flown first to Amman Jordan before heading to Manila.. At least 100 are in Gaza, many of them children of Palestinians married to Filipinos. Foreign Undersecretary Esteban Conejos told reporters that there were no immediate plans to repatriate Filipinos living in Southern Israel, which has been hit by rockets fired across the border by Hamas militants.

(Philippine Daily Inquirer, Christian V. Esguerra, Jerome Aning and AFP, 01-05-09)

29 OFWs stranded in Oman seek GMA’s help repatriation

Twenty-nine OFWs now stranded in Oman have sought the assistance of President Arroyo to help them be repatriated and also collect their unpaid salaries for four years from their Taiwanese employer. The Filipino workers stage a strike aboard the fishing vessel, which based in Oman in the Middle East, to protest the nonpayment of their salaries. Imelda Capuchino, whose son Rodel is one of the stranded OFWs from Isabela, said she was worried about her son who was also reportedly suffering from a kidney ailment, aside from reportedly being overworked.

Meanwhile, the family of an OFW whose remains arrived from Lebanon last week called on the government to investigate what they described as her “mysterious death.” The husband of MaryAnn Timog said they refused believe that she had committed suicide while working as a house maid in Lebanon. He added that his wife’s remains showed signs of scratches, the left part of her face was smashed and she had a broken left leg. The official autopsy report from Lebanon stated that there were no signs that she was raped. Timog reportedly committed suicide last Dec. 21 by jumping from the 11th floor of an apartment building where she worked in Lebanon. Relatives said Timog, who went to Lebanon last year, was sending alarming text message to her family, indicating her horrible situation a few days before her alleged suicide. (The Philippine Star, By Charie Lagasca, 01-19-09)

31 Pinays home from Saudi with tales of woe

Thirty-one undocumented overseas Filino workers (OFWs) returned home yesterday with tales of abuse and neglect from their employers in Saudi Arabia. The majority of the workers complained of maltreatment and health problems. The others said they were not paid their salaries despite working long hours, while some had immigration-related problems. Lorena Genosas, 39, of Zamboanga City, recounted how she was hired as a private nurse in Riyadh in July last year but ended up as a maid who was allowed only two hours of sleep. “I was made to eat only one meal—a piece of bread—everyday,” she told Inquirer. Gloria delos Santos, 41, said her health had also suffered because she was overworked, but she could not come back because she had no money for plane fare. Her husband finally got in touch with helpline which facilitated her return home. (Philippine Daily Inquirer, Jerome Aning, 02-20-09)

51 OFWs complain contract substitution

Migrante-Middle East said it received an affidavit signed by the 51 overseas Filipino workers detailing their allegations against their employer, CIFIX World, an outsourcing company supplying manpower to labor contractors engaged in infrastructure and construction projects.

Migrante-ME regional coordinator John Leonard Monterona said OFWs were deployed last December 2008 and some arrived in Libya by batches by Philippine-based recruitment agencies named Aqua Gem Manpower International and Sharikat Al Saide International Manpower Agency, both located in Manila.

He said the earlier 49 OFWs escaped from their labor camp and complained about the reduction of their basic salary from US$520 per month to US$412 in which US$300 was the basic income and US$112 was the fixed overtime rate for 12 hours a day, seven days a week, with no day off. “Now, another 51 OFWs are complaining the same – contract violation on the stipulated salary that are reduced and working more than eight hours without paying the overtime worked and with no day off,” Monterona added. (Philippine Daily Inquirer, By Jerome Aning, 03/18/09)

AFRICA

33 Filipinos hijacked off Somalia—DFA

The Department of Foreign Affairs on Friday confirmed that 33 Filipinos were among the crew of two chemical tankers in a back-to-back hijacking off the coast of Somalia on March 25 and 26.

This brings to 104 the number of Filipino seafarers in the hands of suspected Somali pirates.

The Gulf of Aden, which links Europe and Asia, has been the site of many hijackings, prompting the international community to act against the pirates. The United Nations has approved land-based actions against the pirates.(INQUIRER.net, By Veronica Uy, 03-27-09)

Pirates seize ship with 17 Filipinos

Athens, Greece—A Greek cargo ship with a 24-man crew, including 17 Filipinos, was seized on Thursday by Somali pirates operating in the Gulf of Aden, the Greek merchant marine ministry said. The St. Vincent-flagged cargo ship Titan is currently heading for the Somali coast following its capture, the ministry said.

It has a cargo of iron and was sailing from the Black Sea to Korea. Somali pirates have attacked more than 130 merchant ships in the region last year, including several Greek-owned vessels. This marks an increase of more than 200 percent on 2007, according to the International Maritime Bureau, which tracks piracy and shipping security issues. (AFP, The Philippine Star, 03-21-09)

NORTH AMERICA

NY court acquits 10 Pinoy nurses

The New York Supreme court has acquitted 10 Filipino nurses from criminal charges that they endangered their patients when they resigned from their jobs in a Long Island nursing home in 2006, in protest against recruitment violations. The case was brought against the nurses by the Sentosa Recruitment Agency which hired them from the Philippines for a three-year working contract in the United States. The 10 nurses who were acquitted were Elmer Jacinto, Juliet Anilao, Harriet Avila, Mark dela Cruz, Claudine Gamiao, Jennifer Lampe, Rizza Maulion, James Millena, Ma. Theresa Ramos and Ranier Sichon.

The New York court granted the nurses petition to stop the Suffolk country from prosecuting them. Saying that their resignation did not endanger their patients as they did it after their shifts ended. Stopping the nurses from resigning their jobs was a violation of the thirteenth Amendment, which outlaws slavery and involuntary servitude, the court said. In the US case that was the subject of the New York court decision, Sentosa Care brought a $50-million damage suit against 10 nurses from the group and their lawyer Vinluan for breach of contract, conspiracy and child endangerment.

In the Philippines, the nurses’ group last year successively lost the cases it filed against Sentosa for illegal recruitment, contract violations and illegal dismissal and nonpayment of salaries and other money claims with the POEA, the National Labor Relations Commission and the Department of Justice. (Philippine Daily Inquirer, Kristine L. Alave, 01-17-09)

Canada opens doors to more immigrants this year

The federal government announced that it expects to grant permanent-resident status to 265,000 foreigners in 2009, the same number from 2008. Canada is following the lead of Australia, Germany and England to name a few countries. However, other countries are expected to reduce the number of people it admits in 2009. In Canada, the plan is to accelerate the processing of applications form potential new Canadians in dozens of high-demand occupations. Under the plan, people wishing to move to Canada who work in 38 highly skilled job areas, such as health, finance and the oil industry, will go to the front line. This means that skilled immigrants could have their visas processed in six to 12 months, instead of having to wait five to six years. (The Philippine Star, By Mel Tobias, 01-11-09)

NY nuns sue Pinay over ‘tuyo’

New York—It may be cultural thing, but when you’re up against a congregation of nuns and your neighbors in an apartment building, a lawsuit would make an interesting anthropological study in ethnic tension. The Missionary Sisters of Sacred Heart in Manhattan has filed a complaint against a Filipina-American couple, Michael and Gloria Lim, over a Filipino delicacy called tuyo (dried fish), and its funky cousin, the tinapa (smoked fish). Report say Gloria was smoking fish outside her apartment window when the smell-noxious stench to the nuns, divine aroma to the Lims – of the salted fish wafted throughout the Gramercy apartment building. The “foul smell” was too strong the nuns suspected it was coming from a decomposing body and called in the fire department. According to reports, the firemen searched every unit of the building and were able to trace the source of the smell to the Lims unit. They knocked, and no one came to the door, the NYPD came barreling in. Gloria, a nurse, found her door knocked down and was obviously peeved. It appears the MSSH leases the unit to the Lims and may have authorized the assault. “I cooked dried fish,” Gloria defiantly declared to the NY Post. The average American may find it puzzling how one can derive pleasure of the palate from dried fish. Foodie Andrew Zimmern who has been in the Philippines and braved balut (fertilized duck egg with an embryo) and Soup No. 5 (bulls rectum and testicles soup, believed to be a powerful aphrodisiac), might be able to share the gustatory experience.(The Philippine Star, By Cristina DC Pastor, 01-15-09)

Filipina held for slay of fellow caregiver

Pompano Beach, FL The body of 48-year-old Veronica Galas is en route to Manila, where it will be buried by her family. Galas was allegedly killed by a fellow Filipino caregiver, 59-year-old Consolacion Alarcon, on February 16 while the two were caring for an 89-year-old elderly woman, who reportedly slept through the incident.

According to an affidavit report filed by Detective Timothy Duggan, at 10:30 p.m. Monday night, a neighbor, Elaine Glassman, heard the yelling and multiple thumping noises coming from the home of the elderly woman, identified as Dorothy Hendeles.

Minutes later, another neighbor, Perola Maquiling, knocked on Glassman’s door in panic and told her that Alarcon asked her to come to the apartment. When Maquiling got there, she saw Alarcon with bloody hands.

Maquiling and Glassman then went to Hendeles’ apartment and found Galas’ lifeless body. Alarcon reportedly stayed in the apartment and was soon arrested. She has been charged with murder and booked at the Broward County jail without bond.(By Lenn Almadin-Thornhill, 03-09-09)

Pinay among widows facing US expulsion

San Antonio—Filipino widow Gwendolyn Hanford is facing deportation. Hanford husband of a heart attack in 1998, before the government approved her green card application. She was notified in 2002 that although the couple have child together, her application was denied. Hanford and at least 200 immigrants nationwide face deportation under what’s become known as the “widow’s penalty,” a federal policy ordering widows and widowers out of the country should their US citizen spouse die before their immigration application has been approved.. (By AP, Phil. Daily Inquirer,03-11-09)

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL REPORT
Would-be immigrants languish in US centers

Washington – Would-be immigrants and asylum seekers are being detained for long periods, sometimes years, at US centers as their cases navigate the legal system, Amnesty International USA said in report here.

Those being held "include asylum seekers, torture survivors, victims of human trafficking, longtime lawful permanent residents, and the parents of US citizen children," the group said in a 51-page report.

US detention of immigrants has tripled since 1996 to some 30,000 people in 2008, the group said in their report titled "Jailed Without Justice: Immigration Detention in the USA," out Wednesday.

"Numbers are likely to increase in 2009," the report read, adding that many of those being held have difficulty obtaining legal aid.

While the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reported an average detention stay of 37 days in 2007, immigrants "may be detained for months or even years" as they navigate the legal system, Amnesty said.

The group said it found several cases of people who were held for four years while their cases were sorted out.

Those being held while their cases are handled are sometimes kept along with criminals, which Amnesty says is a violation of international standards.

"America should be outraged by the scale of human rights abuses occurring within its own borders," Larry Cox, executive director of AIUSA, said in a statement. (INQUIRER.net , Agence France-Presse, 03/27/09)

AUSTRALIA & OCEANIA

South Australia to recruit OFWs to address its skill shortage

Amidst the global financial crisis, South Australia (SA) in bent on recruiting Filipino skilled workers to address its perennial problem on skills shortage and subsequently ease the pressure on employers in this Australian state struggling with the lack of essential skills, the DOLE said. Major projects totaling $45 billion include the building of the Royal Australian Air Warfare Destroyer; Manpower requirements of these projects are estimated to reach 133,000 until 2018. Another 206,000 workers would require replacing those who would leave the workforce. (Philippine Daily Inquirer, 01-04-09)

OFWs benefit from expansion of New Zealand dairy industry

The rapid expansion of New Zealand’s dairy industry continues to benefit Filipino workers flocking to that country in search of the proverbial “greener pasture”. In September 17, 2008 issue, the Southern Rural life featured Fabela and Elmer Maglaqui as among about 500 Filipinos now working in dairy farms in New Zealand’s Southland. There are about 15,000 Filipinos in New Zealand. (The Philippine Star, Rudy A. Fernandez, 02-09-09)

Pinoy losses job for ‘un-Australian toilet habits’

A man who uses water instead of toilet paper says he was sacked for his “un-Australian” toilet habits. Amador Bernabe, 43, is a machine operator in Townsville on a working visa from the Philippines, the Townsville bulletin reported. On Thursday, he claimed his foreman followed him into the bathroom, questioning toilet hygiene. The move has angered union bosses and politician on the Australia Day weekend. Greens spokeswoman Jenny Stirling praised Bernabe for standing up his rights.(The Philippine Star, By Paolo Romero, 01-29-09)

Jinggoy says Pinoy nurses discriminated in New Zealand

Jinggoy Estrada, chairman of the Senate committee on Labor and employment, took issue with the Council’s director, David Wills, for allegedly belittling Filipino nurses. Wills reportedly question the quality of nursing training programs in the Philippines based on his observation that the number of nursing students in the country boomed from 30,000 in 2004 to 450,000 in 2008. Wills said the New Zealand as well as other overseas nursing authorities had stopped registering Filipino nurses because of concerns over their qualifications. Estrada said the official should be slapped with diplomatic protest if no public apology would be made. He said his office received a letter-complaint from a Filipino nurse who spent at least $8,000 to process her application and deployment in New Zealand, but was eventually denied registration by the Council, resulting in her current status as an unemployed and overstaying alien in that country. Philippine Ambassador to Wellington Bienvenido Tejano, reported there were about 50- “distressed” overstaying Filipinos in New Zealand, many of them nurses who were denied registration by the Council. Estrada urged the Department of Foreign Affairs to immediately file a diplomatic protest against Wills and demand a public apology from the Council director. (The Philippine Star, By Aurea Calica and Jose Rodel Clapano, 03-01-09)

EUROPE

Women’s Day marks crisis of poverty, violence

Paris—Women rallied worldwide Sunday to demand equal rights and protest against domestic violence and growing poverty in the global economic crisis as they marked International Women’s Day. For Europeans, deteriorating financial security in the face of recession has made life more precarious for women workers. “Masculine globalization equals female poverty” read a banner at a march in Madrid, while in Warsaw calls for equality were link to paychecks: “Equal rights, equal pay.” When, in time of crisis, jobs become scarce, women are often the ones who are the first to go,” said Hlega Schwitzer, a leader of Germany’s powerful IG Metall Union. (By AFP, 03-10-09)

OFWs warned versus online scams

The Philippine Embassy in the Hague has identified six Internet scam operations that have victimized many overseas Filipino with fake job offers, investments schemes or lottery games. Many Filipinos, mostly based in the Middle East, have been victimized by these bogus online companies that entice respondents to send money, ostensibly to facilitate the processing of papers for job applications of lottery winnings. The embassy advised the public to ignore these fictitious announcements and not to remit any money to any bank. Earlier, the embassy said the site of reserve petroleum Nederland BV was reported to have victimized Filipinos working in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates with promises of employment contracts in the Netherlands. The modus operandi is to e-mail an official letter of appointment to job seekers, assuring them of employment. The “official letter” would mention the scope of the work, an attractive salary package, fringe benefits, grants and other supposed entitlements. The e-mail sender will then direct recipients to remit a certain amount of money to cover the “fees” for visa, work or residence permits supposedly required by the Dutch government. Anyone who remits money will soon find out that the company is fraudulent. (Philippine Daily Inquirer, By Cynthia D. Balana, 01-07-09)

WOMEN ISSUES

ILO: Jobless Asians to reach 113M in ‘09

Women half of unemployed---Government should include women in the stimulus packages, as they comprise half of the unemployed and their incomes go directly to household spending, Yamamoto and other labor experts said. She noted that women were instrumental in keeping children in school and in fueling private consumption. Funds should be also allotted for “investments in health and education, and pension systems” to support other vulnerable sectors and spur domestic demand to keep the economy going, the ILO said. “Social transfers serve the dual purpose of stimulating domestic spending while also protecting the poor and the vulnerable from the worst effects of the crisis,” Yamamoto added. Nieves Confessor, a former labor secretary, said the Philippine government’s current stimulus package was excluding women and other vulnerable sectors from employment. “They have not put it in their heads [to include women]. It’s so macho, isn’t it?” she said of the DPWH’s infrastructure spending. (Kristine L. Alave,With reports from AP and Gil Cabacungan, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 02-19-09)

Marriages baits for women in trafficking, exec warns

The commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) has warned Filipino women to be extra careful in accepting marriage proposals from foreigners to avoid becoming victims of human trafficking. Cherry Joy Veniles, senior emigrant services officer of the CFO’s Migrant Integration and Education Office, said the same word of caution holds true for Filipinos who applied for overseas work as complaints for breach of job contracts had increased over the years. The CFO has identified the Cordillera as the fifth among the top 10 provinces in the country where the most number of OFWs and immigrants originated.

Benguet, like Davao, was also identified as the province where most “Nikkeijins” who go to work in Japan come from. “Nikkeijins” are Filipino descendants of Japanese nationals. CFO records showed that 8.72 million Filipinos were abroad as of 2007. Of this number, 3.69 million held permanent resident visas,4.13 million were considered irregulars, also known as TNTs (Tago nang Tago or undocumented Filipino hiding from immigration authorities).

The prosecutors, however, of human traffickers still leaves much to be desired, said Eumardo Tolosa, a member of CFO’s Task Force on Human Trafficking. He said since the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act (Republic Act No. 9208) was enacted in 2003, only 12 people have so far been convicted.(Philippine Daily Inquirer, Delmar Cariño, 02-21-09)

RP baby, mother mortality among world’s highest

Each day 11 Filipino mothers die in childbirth due to poor maternal health care, according to the latest United Nations children’s Fund (UNICEF) study on risks faced by pregnant women and newborns. Newborn mortality also remained high in the Philippines, with half of the deaths of those five years old and under occurring during infancy, the study said. Philippines is one ot the 68 developing nations where 97% of all maternal, newborn and child deaths worldwide occur, it said. “Around 11 Filipino mothers die every day or an estimated 4,500 every year due to severe hemorrhage, hypertensive disorder, sepsis and problems related to obstructed labor and abortion,” said Unicef’s state of the World’s Children report for 2009. “In the Philippines, the lifetime risk of maternal death is 1 in 140. About half of the deaths of Filipino children under five happen in the first 28 days of life,” it said. Among developing countries, a woman has a 1 in 76 lifetime risk of maternal death, compared with a probability of 1 in 8,000 for women in develop nations. In the Philippines, the lifetime risk of maternal deaths is 1 in 140. (Philippine Daily Inquirer, By Dona Z. Pazzibugan, 01-16-09)

UP professor charged for hitting woman

Charged were filled yesterday against a professor of the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City, after a 24-year-old woman accused him of punching her on the mouth following a traffic altercation on Monday. Case officer Eleocia R. Martinez said Dr. Amador Argete, an assistant professor of the UP College of Science, was charged with physical injuries at the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office after his alleged victim, an employee at the Quezon City Hall, filed a complaint with the police. (Philippine Daily Inquirer, Nancy C. Carvajal, 02-11-09)

Who’s afraid of the Magna Carta of Women?

Magna Carta of Women (MCW), now in bicameral discussion, has stirred up great passion in some circles. Conservative Catholics see it as part of a “pro-death” legislative agenda. Some women’s group are licensed at what they interpret as retrogressive attempts by the CBCP to subvert the bills gender-equity orientation, although legislators working with the CBCP’s Episcopal Commission on Family and Life and Office of women (Phil Daily Inquirer, Eleanor R. Dionisio and John J Carroll, Institute on Church and Social Issues, 02-14-09)

Victims of abuse speak out

Every day in 2007, an average of 20 women experienced some form of violence in the Philippines. This translated to almost 7,000 cases of violence recorded that year. One of these cases was that of Rose Rigos. Mother of three, who after eight years decided to end her marriage because she had enough of her husband beating her back and blue, Rigos, 30, a physical therapist and a “sales leader” of Avon, yesterday talked about her experience in “Speak Out Against Domestic Violence Campaign,” which launched in the country Avon’s worldwide campaign against domestic violence. Joining Rigos was television personality Ruffa Gutierez, who earlier went public about the physical abuse she suffered during her four-0year marriage to Turkish businessman Yilmaz Bektas. Gutierez starred crying after watching an Avon video of men and women giving detailed accounts of domestic abuse.

Domestic violence is the reality that can happen to anyone. Despite the existence of Republic Act No. 9262—the law which punishes those who abuse women and children physically, psychologically, emotionally and economically—many victims do not report the violence. (Philippine Daily Inquirer, Nikko Dizon, 02-25-09)

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Prepared by: Abba B. Lucido
April 14, 2009