Help Filipinos Stranded in Kish, Stop Export of Labor

Aside from urging the Philippine government to provide assistance to thousands of Filipino workers stranded in the Iranian island of Kish and Omani town of Buraimi, Dubai due to new and stricter visa rule implemented by the United Arab Emirates, Gabriela Women’s Party renews its call for the Arroyo administration to stop the promotion of labor export as a solution to the increasing unemployment in the country and instead implement policies that will secure high standard of living among Filipinos such as wage increases and increase in the budget for social services.

“Labor export can never be an alternative to strong employment and social service measures in improving the quality of life of the Filipino people. It is only a palliative solution and can never be a tool for development,” Gabriela Party-list Rep. Luz Ilagan said. “Moreover, it cloaks the disinterest on the part of the government in creating and implementing appropriate policies.”

She added that promoting the export of labor is like “throwing people who can’t swim to a sea full of hungry sharks.”

“Foreign countries can be dangerous and unsafe for Filipino migrants, especially since our country does not have a government that works hard to protect and promote the welfare of its people, which can be attested to by the experience of around 5,000 Filipino professionals, skilled and semi-skilled workers who are stranded in Kish and Buraimi with no proper place to stay or adequate food.”

The new visa rules in the UAE, which many Filipinos enter with a tourist visa in hope of finding a job and later apply for proper working papers, forced them to leave the territory and stay in the borderline countries for at least a month. Kish law forbids foreigners from sleeping in private homes, so migrant workers are forced to stay in relatively affordable but cramped hotels.

Out of job, many Filipino migrants survive through the help of compatriots or by working part-time jobs. According to the Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants, many women migrants are forced into prostitution in order to survive. Moreover, at least one Filipino commits suicide almost every month due to desperation.

“It came to our attention that the Philippine embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Philippine Consulate in Dubai are aware of the condition of the stranded migrant workers. Gabriela Women’s Party demands that they do their jobs and provide the necessary assistance to our brothers and sisters.”