MIGRANTE INTERNATIONAL
NEWS RELEASE
March 30, 2026
KALBARYO NG MGA OFWS SA GITNA NG DIGMAAN AT KAPABAYAAN NG GOBYERNO
Migrant worker group Migrante International led a protest action in front of the headquarters of the Department of Migrant Workers to demand accountability for the PH government’s incompetence and blatant disregard for ensuring the full protection of Filipino migrants in the Middle East one month since the US-Israel led attacks on Iran began on February 28.
The protest marks the beginning of a series of protest actions that will be held in various countries by Migrante chapters and Filipino migrant organizations during the Holy Week.
The intensification of the conflict in the Middle East in the last weeks has threatened not only the safety and welfare of more than 2 million Filipino migrants in the region, but also their livelihood and job security. OFWs working in various sectors such as tourism, airport, and service report that companies and businesses have shifted to “work from home” arrangements, limited their operations or temporarily closed down, leaving many OFWs unable to send financial support to their families in the Philippines. Meanwhile, many OFWs such as domestic workers have been subjected to extended working hours and forced labor and thousands of seafarers still remain stranded at sea.
Migrante slammed the Marcos administration for its dismal record in the past month in seriously addressing the worsening economic impacts of the war on Filipino migrant workers and neglecting to uphold their rights and welfare especially among the most vulnerable –the undocumented, women and seafarers.
“Ang gobyerno ni Marcos mismo ang naglalagay sa ating mga kababayan sa panganib dahil sa matinding kapabayaan nito at kawalan ng komprehensibong plano para matugunan ang libo libong mawawalan ng kabuhayan dulot ng krisis. Kasalanan ng gobyerno bakit mas natatakot umuwi ang ating mga kababayan kaysa sa pagbagsak ng mga missile at drone dahil alam nila gutom at paghihirap ang aabutin ng kanilang pamilya kapag umuwi sila”, saad ni Josie Pingkihan, Deputy Secretary General ng Migrante International
While the Department of Migrant Workers have reported that 2,630 OFWs have already been repatriated as of March 24, Migrante highlighted the PH government’s failure to address long-standing issues many Filipino migrants face in exiting their host countries especially during times of crisis and conflict that leave many stranded for long periods of time. Furthermore, Migrante criticized DMW policies that further subject OFWs to burdensome processes, citing a policy by the Migrant Worker Office (MWO) in Dubai, instructing OFWs who lost their passports without proper documentation to first report to local police before seeking assistance from the MWO.
“Sa panahon ng pandemyang COVID 19, naranasan ng maraming mga Pilipino sa Gitnang Silangan ang mahahabang proseso at pag antay bago makauwi. Sa panahon na ito, kulang na kulang o kadalasan walang ayuda na natatanggap mula sa gobyerno. Mahirap din kontakin ang mga hotline ng gobyerno. Ngayon, nauulit na naman ang mga problema na ito. Ang mga kababayan natin na undocumented, may nilalabanan na kaso o pilit na hindi pinapayagan ng employer nila na umuwi, sila ay nahihirapan at pinahihirapan ng gobyerno.” dagdag ni Pingkihan.
Migrante further blasted the PH government’s inadequate and inaccessible welfare assistance and discriminatory practices in its relief assistance program to distressed Filipino migrants and criticized the DMW for requesting Congress for additional budget despite its substandard services.
“May mga undocumented Pilipino sa Bahrain na tinanggihan na bigyan ng ayuda at kinailangan pa kalampagin ang gobyerno para lang makatanggap sila ng serbisyo. Habang ang mga hindi OWWA members ay kakaunti lang ang natanggap na food assistance kumpara sa mga may OWWA membership. Saan ba napupunta ang badyet ng DMW? Ito ba ang kapalit ng malaking ambag ng mga OFWs sa ating ekonomiya? ani ni Pingkihan.
The group also denounced President Marcos’ recent Executive Order 110 declaring a national energy emergency where he directed the Department of Migrant Workers to ensure “reemployment and redeployment” of displaced OFWs in cooperation with the foreign posts of the DFA.
“Sa panahon ng digma at krisis, nasa utak lang ng pangulo na tiyakin ang pangangalakal at pagbebenta ng mga Pilipino para maging murang lakas paggagawa sa labas ng bansa at tuloy tuloy ang pagpasok ng remitans. Ang tunay na papel ng DMW, maging bentador, hindi protektor” saad ni Pingkihan.
Ipinagkakait sa mga migranteng Pilipino ang karapatan nila maprotektahan sa pagsasamantala, panganib, at karahasan. Ipinagkakait ang katiyakan sa kabuhayan at nakabubuhay na sahod dito sa sarili nating bansa. Ilang gyera o krisis ba ang dapat pagdaanan ng ating mga kababayan bago magising ang gobyerno?” dagdag ni Pingkihan.
###
