OFWs caught in political conflicts

We are often told by political philosophers and sages that when global giants collide, in wars and geopolitics, the small guys are bound to suffer the collateral damages. The old Chinese proverb says that when the elephants decide to do battle with each other, the rats and rabbits around should better brace themselves up and prepare to get hurt in the process.

I am afraid that contemporary events unfolding all over are bringing these truisms to light, insofar as our small guys are concerned, our OFWs. The ongoing political turmoil in Egypt, the precarious relationships between South and North Korea, the old wounds in the relationships between Kuwait and its bigger neighbors, particularly Iraq and Iran, and the recent diplomatic row involving our country and Taiwan and mainland China, are showing a lot of danger signs, that have far-reaching implications on our millions of migrant workers and their families.

The political conflict in Egypt between the forces opposing Husni Mubarak and those loyal to him are pregnant with tremendous possibilities that are already dislocating thousands of our migrant workers. In fact, our government has started the very difficult and expensive process of repatriation. And his problem is bound to escalate when the political conflict reaches its boiling point. This is more serious than the not-so-recent military and political confrontation between South and North Korea, which almost lead us to bring home hundreds of thousands of OFWs.

These events are not unprecedented. In the early nineties, we had to evacuate hundreds of thousands of Filipinos when that tiny but oil-rich country was invaded by Iraq. One could not imagine the amount of money and the personnel we have to deploy to implement the safety and security measures called for under such dangerous circumstances.

Silently, in the last few days, just immediately before the Chinese New Year, there was a not-too-simple political row that came about to our country and Taiwan where there are no less than 80 thousand Filipinos.This conflict is so sensitive, involving 14 Taiwanese who were allegedly accused of being involved supposedly in an international fraud ring. Because of its sensitive issue, I can not expound on it here for the purpose of this column is not to delve into the political and other implications of the issue, but merely to put to light the welfare and interests of the OFWs.

To our mind, it was easier in Kuwait and Korea, because our country have diplomatic relations with those countries, The same is true with Egypt. But here in Taiwan, we have economic and cultural ties, being facilitated by our Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO). Manila and Taipeh do have a very pleasant and mutually productive economic and cultural ties. Any problem will necessarily impact on the livelihood of too many Filipinos and their families. The problem is made more complicated because we do have an existing diplomatic relations with mainland China. And everybody knows the problems between Beijing and Taipei. And so, we are a rabbit in between two elephants.

In the face of problems like these, we have to be prepared to help our people. While there is no danger of a shooting war like in Egypt and Kuwait, or South Korea, there may be some serious reexamination by the host government of the current exchanges and relations. And when that happens, the small guys will most probably get hurt. There are many existing work contracts that had been paid very high placement fees. Money were borrowed from lending companies and there shall be a lot of problems in repaying them, in case there shall be some disruptions or non-renewals of contracts. We are facing a lot of competitions from other labor-sending countries like Indonesia, Vietnam and Thailand.

Insofar as the Egypt situation is concerned, that may be more urgent and precarious because the very security of Filipino workers are at stake. The Department of Foreign Affairs has a full-time Undersecretary For Migrant Workers who is focused and dedicated to problems like this. The department of Labor and Employment has the POEA and OWWA, with the Labor Attaches and Welfare Officers all over the world. And yet, we do not need problems like these at such difficult times our country is experiencing, with its many internal issues and countless international challenges and concerns.

Well, as the philosophers would say, that’s how the cookie crumbles. When the giants cough, the small guys get a flu. My problem is, the small guys here are our own OFWs. And I am very much concerned with the turn of events. The only thing the OFWs here coulld do is: Ampo ug Amping.

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