ON the heels of the Kuwaiti government’s decision to suspend the visa issuance for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), Migrante International yesterday said there is more reason for the Marcos administration to drop the labor export policy.
In a statement, Migrante said the decision of the Kuwaiti government to prevent OFWs from entering the Arab nation should prompt the Philippine government to review its penchant to deploy its workers abroad instead of finding ways to provide local employment opportunities.
“Kuwait’s rejection of OFWs is yet another proof that labor export is unsustainable in the long run for the country. It makes us dependent on the changing demands of other countries, some of whom resent efforts to protect OFWs’ rights,” said Migrante.
“It makes OFWs vulnerable to labor exploitation and various forms of abuse. It has not and will not bring about real development for the country,” it also said, adding that the government’s dependence on OFWs and their remittances is unacceptable.
Migrante said the government should instead develop the country’s agriculture and industries, as well as generate other jobs at home.
“We condemn the Marcos regime for stepping up the implementation of the government’s labor export policy, and for refusing to take steps to develop the country,” said the group.
“Its authoritarian nostalgia and adherence to such economic policies are leading the country nowhere and increasing Filipinos’ suffering,” added Migrante.
The Kuwaiti government earlier announced the suspension of the issuance of visas to Filipinos, which has so far affected more than 800 OFWs whose deployment to Kuwait has been put on hold.
Efforts to lift the suspension have yet to bear fruit as the talks between the Philippines and Kuwait ended in a deadlock.
