Jordan assures RP workers of rights protection

MANILA, Philippines -- Jordan has assured the Philippines that it would protect the human rights of Filipino migrants, particularly distressed workers, in the kingdom.

The assurance was made by Jordan's Human Rights Commissioner General, Shahir Bak, to Philippine Ambassador to Jordan Julius D. Torres during their meeting at the National Centre for Human Rights (NCHR) in Amman last week.

In his report to the Department of Foreign Affairs, Torres said he expressed the embassy's gratitude for the NCHR's assistance to repatriate distressed Filipino workers, particularly the elderly, minors, the physically and mentally disabled, and mothers with their children who were born in Jordan.

Bak also assured the Philippines of the Center's "continuous cooperation in resolving individual cases" involving Filipinos and other migrant workers, by establishing the legal framework to ensure the protection of their rights.

He also discussed with Torres the need for an enabling legislation in Jordan to include migrant domestic workers "under the umbrella of the labor law."

The NCHR is an independent government agency established in 2003 by virtue of a temporary law, which was made permanent by Law No. 51 enacted by the Jordanian parliament in 2006. Its main objective is to protect and enhance human rights and public freedoms in the Kingdom.

A board of trustees oversees the work of the Centre and it has two members from civil society organizations. The secretariat, headed by the commissioner general, implements the policies and programs mandated by the Trustees.

There were around 3,000 OFWs, mostly domestic helpers, in Jordan before the Department of Labor and Employment suspended their deployment there because of the rising cases of distressed Filipino workers being repatriated to Manila.

The ban, however, only covers newly hired workers since returning workers who do not have problems with their employers are allowed to return to Jordan and complete their contract.

The DOLE said the suspension of deployment of domestic workers to Jordan should serve as a warning to unscrupulous individuals and agencies against deployment without proper documents such as job contracts and work visa.

In 2007 alone, a total of 775 documented and undocumented distressed workers were assisted by the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Amman. The Filipinos were given medical assistance and repatriated to the Philippines.

The government first suspended the deployment of workers to Jordan in 1990 because of the high incidence of maltreatment and exploitation.

However, in 2005, DoLE through then Labor Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas, lifted the ban with the opening of the POLO in Amman and the implementation of a "special work contract" which provided for liberal welfare provisions for the foreign household service workers.

With the number of illegal Filipino workers continuing to rise, the DFA has renewed its call Filipinos to make sure that they are properly documented once they leave the country for overseas jobs. - Cynthia Balana, Philippine Daily Inquirer, April 03, 2008