DFA Promotes Migrant Worker Protection, Addresses Wage Theft at UN Forum 

 Left photo: DFA Acting Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs Eduardo Jose A. de Vega calls on the international community to work together in combatting migrant worker wage theft. Right photo: The hybrid forum featured in-person and virtual speakers.(Photos from NYPM)

UNITED NATIONS, NEW YORK, 21 November 2022 — Acting DFA Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs Eduardo A. de Vega called for better protection of migrant workers from wage theft at a forum at the United Nations.

The Philippines, in partnership with Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, organized a forum to shed light on the issue of wage theft and its effects on migrant workers and migration processes. Speakers included representatives from the governments of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, as well as the International Organization for Migration, International Labor Organization and Migrant Forum in Asia.

The meeting featured opening remarks delivered virtually by Secretary of Foreign Affairs Enrique A. Manalo (see separate news release of even date), who explained how emergency repatriations at the onset on the COVID-19 pandemic made it difficult for workers to recover their wages.

Undersecretary de Vega emphasized the country’s commitment to protecting Filipinos abroad through the Legal Assistance Fund for overseas Filipinos, Assistance-to-Nationals Fund and bilateral and multilateral cooperation.

Undersecretary de Vega recommended that to prevent or address wage theft, governments, international organizations, civil society and other stakeholders must cooperate. He also clarified that “reclaiming unpaid wages is not a one-size-fits-all process.”

“From the national down to the local governments, there is a need to contextualize the specific environment in which wage theft is being experienced and this should be in compliance with the due process afforded to countries of origin and destination,” Undersecretary de Vega added.

On access to justice, the undersecretary stressed that governments “must be proactive in coordinating justice mechanisms to ensure that migrants have access to justice anywhere in the world, in every stage of the migration cycle.”

Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations Mohan Pieris stressed that often, migrant workers do not have easy access to justice and recourse for wage claims, and many fear retaliation for filing claims against their employers.

Chargé d’Affaires of the Permanent Mission of Bangladesh to the United Nations Md. Monwar Hossain, emphasized the important contribution of migrants to the socioeconomic development of their countries of origin and destination. Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment of Bangladesh Nasreen Jahan shared the country’s laws to strengthen protection of migrant workers.

Deputy Director General of the International Organization for Migration Amy Pope shared the importance of partnerships between governments, the private sector and migrant workers themselves to develop effective solutions.

International Labor Organization Special Representative Beate Andrees described promising developments in countries of destinations, such as digital wage protection systems.

Migrant Forum in Asia Chairperson Sumitha Shaanthinni Krishna gave recommendations to better protect migrant workers, including by removing provisions in bilateral agreements that make workers pay recruitment fees and by making work visas more flexible.

The forum was moderated by Deputy Permanent Representative Ariel R. Penaranda of the Philippine Mission to the United Nations.

The Philippines champions the rights and welfare of migrant workers at the UN, guided by the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, and has adopted several ILO conventions relating to migrant workers.

For more information, visit https://www.newyorkpm.dfa.gov.ph,     https://www.un.int/philippines     or https://www.facebook.com/PHMissionNY/.         END