(MANILA BULLETIN)

Labor migration should be a free choice among Filipinos and not a necessity. Thus, said OFW Party-list Rep. Marissa “Del Mar” Magsino Wednesday, June 7, on the occasion of Migrant Workers’ Day. In a statement, Magsino said labor migration should be a free choice, not one forced upon the citizens because of scarcity of decent livelihood opportunities in their country. “Ang pagtatrabaho sa abroad ay dapat naka-ankla sa bukas na kagustuhang magtrabaho; hindi dahil sa sapilitang pakikipagsapalaran dahil sa kawalang oportunidad sa kanilang bayan (Working abroad should be anchored on the open desire to work, and not as a last resort due to the dearth of opportunities in your own land)," she said. "Kaya’t kailangan din natin tutukan ang mga polisiya na magbibigay ng full employment dito sa Pilipinas (That's why there should also be a focus on policies that would bring about full employment in the Philippines)," noted Magsino. Magsino also emphasized the need to address the common problems besetting migrant workers, namely illegal recruitment; human trafficking; employer abuses such as contract-switching, non-provision of mandated benefits; high placement fees, costs of other regulatory requirements; and false criminal charges and unlawful incarceration. Her remarks notwithstanding, the lady solon hailed OFWs for being the driving force behind the Philippine economy’s growth thanks to their money remittances back home. She said that OFW remittances amounted to $36.136 billion in 2022. This is equivalent to 8.9 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and 8.4 percent of the Gross National Income (GNI).