The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has urged the people to report cases of human rights violations against overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), especially now that the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has rendered them more vulnerable.
"Kung mayroong kaso ng human rights violation laban sa mga OFWs na nais nyong idulog sa CHR, mangyaring i-fill out ang online case intake form (If there is a case of human rights violation against OFWs, you can file with the CHR, please fill out the online case intake form)," the CHR said on Twitter. The website link is: http://tinyurl.com/ofw-reports or email the CHR at [email protected].
The CHR said the OFWs themselves can file their complaints, or those who witnessed these cases of abuses or human rights violations can do it for them.
"Ang pang-aabuso ay maaaring (These abuses can be) physical, verbal/sexual abuse, non-payment or delay in payment of wages, contract violation, contract substitution, illegal recruitment, trafficking in persons, confiscation of passport, illegal fees, at marami pang iba (and many more)," the CHR said.
Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Silvestre Bello reported in July that over 400,000 OFWs have been affected by the economic slump brought about by the pandemic.
A total of 204,481 OFWs were repatriated, 69,477 are sea-based while 135,004 are land-based, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
CHR Focal Commissioner on Migrant Rights Gwendolyn L.L. Pimentel-Gana had earlier made an appeal to the government to extend as much help to the affected OFWs.
DOLE and its Philippine Overseas Labor Offices have been called to continue accepting applications pursuant to the DOLE-Abot Kamay ang Pagtulong (DOLE-AKAP) initiative, which aims to provide $200 or P10,000 to displaced regular and documented OFWs, some undocumented OFWs, and OFWs who cannot return to their receiving countries because of the lockdown.
"We continue to urge the Philippine government to ensure that our migrants have full access to health care systems, essential goods and services, cash grants or financial assistance, and mental health and psycho-social support services," she said.