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MATRIX OF MIGRANTE SECTORAL PARTY POSITIONS
ON SPECIFIC HOUSE BILLS OF THE THIRTEENTH CONGRESS

House Bill Number
(1) HB 1281

Bill Title

An Act Liberalizing And Accelerating The Processing And Deployment Of Overseas Filipino Contract Workers, And Appropriating The Necessary Funds Therefor (OFW Liberalization Act of 2004)

Author
Rep. Roilo Golez

MIGRANTE Position
The MIGRANTE Sectoral Party fully rejects House Bill 1281.

As an organization that knows fully well of the social costs that migration in the Philippine context has brought to our people, we strongly suggest that the House Special Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs junks House Bill 1281.

The said Bill, that the author would like to refer as the "OFW Liberalization Act of 2004," only intends to worsen what existing policies the government has with regard to our close to ten (10) million documented and undocumented migrants worldwide.

House Bill 1281 seeks to amend a major State policy that does not promote overseas employment as a means to sustain economic growth and achieve national development as enshrined in the Migrants Act of 1995 (Republic Act No. 8042). The Bill will only further justify the aggressive moves and actions being committed by the Department of Labor and Employment with regard to promoting overseas employment as a cornerstone of economic development, in actual violation of the policy declarations of RA 8042.

House Bill 1281 is also an attempt to worsen the loophole-laden RA 8042 with its intent to 'liberalize the processing and deployment of OFWs.' The said House Bill will bolster the anti-migrant provisions of the law - Sections 29 and 30 that stipulates the deregulation of recruitment activities and the abandonment of government's regulatory function on the same.

Migrante urgently calls for the junking of House Bill 1281. We appeal to the Honorable Committee not to tamper with Section 2 and Section 2 Paragraph (c) of Republic Act 8042 in its present form. #

[next]
[HB 1281] [HB 1618] [HB737] [HB 3572] [HB 257, HB 346, HB 2367]


 

"For a long time, others have been speaking in our behalf...It is NOW time to speak for ourselves".
MIGRANTE SECTORAL PARTY
Sectoral Party of Overseas Filipinos and Their Families