DOLE's Cortazar misses the point on OPAs

We would like to correct the misconceptions and twisted assertions of Assistant Secretary Jeffrey D. Cortazar of the Department of Labor and Employment.

In his reply (PDI, 5/16/05) to our letter to the editor published on May 3, he was actually using his own absurd ideas and words to besmirch MIGRANTE International and the MIGRANTE Sectoral Party.

Both the MIGRANTE Sectoral Party and MIGRANTE International do not have a "very low and condescending view on overseas performing artists (OPAs)" as Assistant Cortazar alleged.

We are only basing our assertions on government's skewed job generation scheme based on the actual experiences of OPAs in Japan documented by many non-government organizations (NGOs) and past cases of abused OFWs in the 23 countries identified by the DOLE as "growing alternative markets for entertainers."

We also take exception to Cortazar's assertion that composers, musicians and singers comprise the bulk of OPAs deployed.

Cortazar denies statistics from the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA) revealing that 94% of OFWs in Japan are employed as dancers, and 95% of all these OPAs are women. From between 10,000 to 15,000 women entertainers deployed annually to Japan in the early 1980s, the numbers have risen to between 40,000 and 80,000 yearly in the past four years.

He does not know that many Filipino OPAs in Japan who were contracted to work as singers and dancers in performance venues are subjected to employment contract violations such as being forced to do "hostessing" work, delayed payment/underpayment/non-payment of wages and overtime pay, sexual harassment at the work site, no rest days, forced dating with customers or dohan, and their transfer from one venue to another -- a practice known as "rebooking" or "flying booking."

While the entertainers trained to work as dancers, choreographers and singers prior to deployment, their performance is based on how many customers are lured by OPAs every night. Since a large majority (86%) of the OPAs receives their salary only at the end of their work contracts, they are forced to go on dohan requests and commissions from their drinks for their living expenses and for the monthly support they send to their families. The situations they are in make them vulnerable to indignities and exploitation. These are the many facts of trafficking of Filipina OPAs is. These are what Cortazar and the Philippine government takes pains to hide from the public.

The Philippine government cannot refute our claims and the United States Department of State Trafficking In Persons Report that classified the Philippines as a Tier 2 - Watch List nation. The said Report specified that the Philippines 'is a source, transit, and destination country for persons trafficked for the purposes of sexual exploitation and forced labor.' This includes those who are deployed as entertainers and are forced into prostitution with or without government's consent.
To Cortazar's claims that we have baseless allegations and advance vested interests, we can only say that rely largely on government data and issuances when we criticize government policies that are detrimental to OFWs and their dependents. We know what we are asserting and we are advancing the promotion and protection of our rights, welfare and aspirations.

This is what Cortazar does not have in mind. He would like to cover up government's neglect towards the plight of OPAs and OFWs in general. #