Migrante International promotes the rights of migrant workers, exposes anomalies in the government and has been very vocal in its stand against the intensifying labor-export policy of the regime. Through the Migrante Sectoral Party, Migrante promises to provide OFWs the protection that they deserve.
By JANESS ANN J. ELLAO, Bulatlat
MANILA — Many politicians have guised themselves as “pro-overseas Filipino workers,” but with the disturbing number of these migrant workers beheaded and others still on death row, and with more and more of them seeking repatriation because of abuses by their employees, the promises these politicians make ring rather hollow.
“We know the characteristic of a trapo or a traditional politician. They are only there during the election campaign,” said Lian Santos of Migrante International. “Most of the time, the OFWs are only being used by these politician for pogi points.”
OFWs demand change. (Photo by Janess Ann J. Ellao / bulatlat.com)
Migrante chairman Garry Martinez said there is a need for the government to push for laws that would protect and uphold the welfare of the OFWs. And such proposed laws have long been neglected since, as far as the government is concerned, the sending of OFWs abroad is an income-generating project.
Martinez said they have also received a number of feedback from their members urging and suggesting that migrant workers should be represented in Congress, saying they can no longer allow other people to speak for them. “We have to speak for ourselves,” Martinez said.
With this, the staff and members of the Migrante International marched toward the office of the Commission on Elections last week to file for its candidacy for party-list representative in Congress through the Migrante Sectoral Party (MSP).