There are many successful people in the Philippines, including politicians and would be politicians, who think that the best way to prevent maltreatment of SOME overseas Filipino workers is to BAN the deployment of our kababayan to other countries. I say this is not a patriotic or nationalistic stand. This comes from someone who is not in touch with the realities of life.
Preventing people from leaving our country to seek greener pastures is a violation of their human rights. That is not showing care and compassion. That is curtailing their right to explore what opportunities there are in another land. Every individual regardless of race or culture has the right to freedom. Freedom of choice. Freedom to choose where to live, where to study, where to work.
Long term solution for long term gains:
The best way to minimize the chances of our people falling into the hands of illegal recruiters, into becoming prostitutes, drug couriers, or getting exploited is EDUCATION.
Strengthen our education system. A certain degree of knowledge would make them better prepared to face their dreams of working abroad. They would be more mentally and intellectually prepared to protect their individual rights against exploiters.
Education, massive orientation, monitoring and screening must be done by government’s respective departments prior to departure of the workers.
Government may prevent some groups from leaving if there’s a clear danger that certain workers are illegally recruited, would be used as drug couriers, minors, or there’s a strong suspicion that they would be used in illegal activities.
During the Asian financial crisis, our country was kept afloat by the billions of dollars of remittances sent by OFWs to their families. Every time there’s a financial crisis in other countries that could have a ripple effect in Asia, our remittances cushion our country from possible devastating economic effects. We cannot deny these
facts.
Some people suggest that corporations must increase the salaries of workers so that they will stay and not think of going abroad. Of course workers would prefer to stay in our country if they earn the same amount. But that would be hard to match. The government is putting the burden on private companies.
Those who say that are obviously low in knowledge about business and economics. Doing business is not a simple arithmetic of 1 + 1 = 2. It’s more complicated than calculus and algebra. I cannot go on the details because that would be a hundred lectures on business.
Government must pump prime economy thru government spending on infrastructures. Government must seriously consider tax reforms and simplify the reporting process and streamline requirements.
They should direct local governments especially those in the bit cities to be more business friendly. They should do all they can to spur economic growth, so that companies could grow and sustain their profitability.
Companies cannot just HIRE MORE WORKERS. There must be increase in the demand for their goods and services. Hiring more workers is not free. Where would companies get the money to pay for salaries, wages and benefits? And taxes too.
Adding ten employees at 13,000 a month each translates to 130,000 x 13 months = 1,690,000 + 25 % on benefits. That means for a company to hire ten additional employees, it must earn an additional 2,112,500 in a year to afford these ten people. That does not include adding work space, furniture, equipment, ware plus they would also consume electricity and water. Additional cleaning supplies, office supplies, etc. It all adds up. For small and medium companies, that is considered huge.
Lawmakers always conclude that just because companies are surviving, that means they are raking it in. Yung mga mambabatas, kailangan magnegosyo kayo para lumawak ang inyong kaisipan kung paano magpatakbo ng negosyo. Ewan ko lang kung pagkatapos eh mag-sisisigaw pa kayo ng Ban the Deployment of OFWs.
