Coming tsunami of further abuse on Pinays:
Japan's new immigration law to be implemented on January 20; Philippine gov't yet to act

The Migrante Sectoral Party today called on the Japanese government to "stop courting ultimate dishonor in the eyes of the international community with its new Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act that will ride roughshod on migrant victims of human trafficking in Japan on January 20."

"The new immigration control will only worsen the abuses on Filipinas already in Japan. The Japanese government has reiterated its stance against any moratorium. That is why technically, most of all the 304,678 Filipinos in Japan can be subjected to the harsh penalties and procedures mandated by the new Japanese law," Migrante Sectoral Party chairperson Connie Bragas-Regalado said.

Law No. 73 enacted by the Japanese Diet on June 2, 2004 for the Partial Amendment of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act is in reaction to a supposed "deterioration of public security" and to "address rampant human trafficking."

"The Japanese government in trying to project an image of addressing human trafficking with a new law, will actually embark on abusive procedures while doing very little in legal remedies, psychological and financial support to victims of trafficking. Generally, these victims will be deported as illegal aliens under the new law after being meted bigger fines of 2 million Japanese Yen (P1.1 million) to 3 million Japanese Yen (P1.65 million at current exchange rates of P0.55 = 1 Yen), plus jail terms," Bragas-Regalado said.

"This is what both Philippine and Japanese governments are not telling the public," she added.

The Philippine government's labor and foreign affairs officials are only seeking to attain a five year moratorium on the law's implementation. This does not address the conditions of abuse and exploitation Filipina overseas performing artists (OPAs) experience Filipino labor officials have estimated that up to 77,000 Filipinos are undocumented.

"The Philippine government is actually a party to the impending implementation of the law since it has not made the proper diplomatic procedures to avert the wave of arrests and steep fines that will be levied to undocumented Filipinos. Malacanang should prioritize appropriate actions to protect our citizens who will be affected in the wake of the coming crackdown on overseas Filipinos in Japan," Bragas-Regalado ended. #