Villar: Shield OFWs From ‘Recessionary Racism’

Senator Manny Villar expressed concern over reports that there is growing public hostility towards migrants and foreign workers in various countries worldwide. There is also increasing incidents of so-called ‘recessionary racism’.

"Protectionism has become a buzz word amidst the ongoing global financial crisis. Although many are against the protectionist policies that some nations want to implement, it is a reality that many now have a tendency towards protecting their own economies and people," cited Villar.

"The scarcity of job opportunities is causing desperation and anxiety among people. It has also led to growing resentment that foreigners are getting jobs in other nationalities’ home countries. This has given rise to recessionary racism. With millions of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) worldwide, we should ensure that they are protected from this," further cited Villar. As one of the world’s leading sources for skilled and unskilled workers, there are up to nine million Filipinos or about 10 percent of the population are living and working in 140 countries.

In the United Kingdom for instance, a spate of protest rallies have been taking place. The protesters were holding placards that read "British jobs for British people". Moreover, a poll by Financial Times show that 78 percent of British adults believe that immigrants should be asked to leave the country if they do not have a job.

Even in some Middle East countries, there are reports that local citizens are harboring resentments towards foreign workers who are employed and are still getting employed when many of them are having difficulties landing jobs.

According to Villar, "These resentments and other sentiments against foreign workers are knee-jerk reactions to the economic hardships brought about by the global recession. But it does not mean that it should be tolerated or encouraged."

Villar added, "We need to prepare our OFWs about the possibility that they may be subjected to such attitude or treatment that can be described as recessionary racism and those who have experienced such should inform our labor offices. OFWs though should have a healthy attitude and peaceful approach when such incidents occur."

In 2008 alone, the total global deployment of OFWs surged to more than 1.376 million in more than 190 host destinations worldwide. According to the Philippine Overseas Employment Adminis-tration (POEA), a total of 1,376,823 OFWs were deployed worldwide last year, representing a growth of 27.8 percent compared to the 1,077,623 OFWs deployed in 2007. On a daily basis, some 3,772 documented OFWs were deployed globally last year. /MP