Camille P. Balagtas
People's TONIGHT
August 31, 2002
ANGARA CALLS FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF "MIGRANT WORKERS
ACT"
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Senator Edgardo J. Angara today seeks for the implementation of
the "Migrant Workers Act" which deregulates overseas
employment to protect Filipinos seeking foreign jobs from abusive
and corrupt state officials.
Angara said he will seek a formal Senate investigation to
determine why the government has failed to comply with the
mandate to deregulate and phase out regulation on OFWs as
required by the Act.
Angara added that the Upper Chamber should look into the
regulations being imposed by different government agencies on
OFWs.
Among these agencies are Department of Labor and Employment
(DOLE), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Philippine Overseas
Employment Authority (POEA) and the Technical Education arid
Skill Development Authority (TESDA).
The government should have lifted these regulatory measures
following the passage of the Migrant Workers Act. Why is
deregulation still not in effect? Is it because there is money
with regulatory measures?" Angara said.
Angara met the other day with representatives of the Philippine
Overseas Entertainment Industry Foundation Inc. (POEIF) who
bitterly complained about the harsh measures being implemented by
the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority which
conducts screening and tests of Filipino entertainers seeking
foreign posting.
A testing officer of a promotions agency scored TESDA for its
arbitrary testing schedules and questionable choices of venues.
She added that thousands of Filipino entertainers are still
awaiting for the approval of their artist's record book and the
long wait has adversely affected the operations of several
promotions agencies.
Angara pointed out that government's continuous imposition of
regulatory measures, like those on Filipino entertainers leaving
for abroad, has been one of the sources of graft and corruption
in the government.
Angara said the Migrant Worker Act provides for a five-year
deregulation program one year after the passage of the law. 'This
was approved by Congress in 1995 but deregulation was not carried
out. Government is violating the law," Angara pointed out.
///Camille p. balagtas