CONSTRUCTION JOBS IN U.S. AWAIT PINOY WORKERS; JAPAYUKIS APPEAL
MANILA, January 17, 2005 (STAR) Filipinos will continue to be hired for jobs in the United States despite a temporary halt in the issuance of visas to foreign workers, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said yesterday.Labor Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas said while the US government is not accepting petitions for new visas from those in specialized professions such as nursing and teaching until October 2005, officials of Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) and several US territories have expressed desire to hire Filipino construction and tourism workers this year. She noted that TCI officials are coming to the Philippines in February to personally oversee the screening of applicants for different jobs in their island. "TCI is planning to hire at least 1,000 construction and tourism workers and they agreed on our suggestion to get those people from areas which our government declared as poverty-free zones," Sto. Tomas said.
She added that the Philippine government is promoting the hiring of Filipinos from poor communities to promote economic activity in these areas through the remittances of overseas Filipino workers. Sto. Tomas said the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Washington is trying to expand job opportunities for Filipino workers in Caribbean countries such as TCI, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago.
"There are now 1,332 Filipino workers employed in Cayman Islands, Bahamas and TCI. We hope to facilitate hiring of more Filipinos there," Washington-based labor attaché Arturo Sodusta said. He added that POLO is also trying to eliminate bureaucratic requirements and other concerns that discourage American employers from hiring workers from the Philippines. — Mayen Jaymalin
Japayukis’ appeal for fair, equitable Japanese immigration policy Star 01/17/2005
Filipino entertainers and recruiters appealed anew for Japan to amend its new anti-trafficking legislation, saying it fails to draw the line between legitimate artists and illegal workers, and instead penalizes both. Because of this, thousands of Filipino overseas performing artists (OPAs) are making a last ditch stand to convince Tokyo for a "fairer and more equitable" immigration policy, which is set to be implemented on Jan. 20. "Our industry fully supports the reforms being initiated by the Japanese government to curb human trafficking. It is, in fact, long overdue," said Lorenzo Langomez of the Confederated Association of Licensed Entertainment Agencies (CALEA).
"But we also believe that reforms should not only seek to punish the guilty, but also protect the innocent. The Human Trafficking Action Plan being proposed to solve the human trafficking problem in Japan does not distinguish between the legitimate Filipino performer and the illegal worker," Langomez stressed. Tokyo’s campaign against human smuggling came on the heels of a report from the United States citing Japan and the Philippines "as countries on the verge of losing its war against human trafficking."
But CALEA pointed out that Japan’s new law does not even acknowledge an artist’s years of performing experience. Under its revised hiring rules, an OPA has to have at least a two-year work experience to qualify for an entertainer’s visa and that this can only be acquired outside Japan. Tokyo reverted to this old system, which was in place until 1994. If there is no such work experience, Filipino entertainers must have at least two years’ training at a foreign educational institution.
"So even if I have been working as a lounge singer in a five-star hotel in Japan for the past 15 years, I would still not be qualified under the proposed Action Plan if I had not undergone at least two years of formal training in an art school or performed at least two years outside Japan," CALEA chairperson Christie Gatchalian-Buan said.
"Our group believes that due consideration should be given to the artists’ years of performing experience and employment record," she said. Also under the new law, the Japanese government will no longer accept the Artist Record Book as the primary document included in a Filipino entertainer’s application for a visa.
Nearly 300,000 Filipinos work in Japan, many of them women "entertainers" at bars and other nightspots. Filipino officials estimate that up to 77,000 of them have entered the country illegally. Labor recruitment firms here warn that up to 90 percent of the Filipino workers going to Japan would be disqualified under the new law, adopted last month to combat human trafficking.
President Arroyo leads the growing number of Philippine officials, urging Tokyo to reconsider the forthcoming implementation of its new immigration policy amid several legitimate issues raised by Filipino entertainers, recruiters and promoters. The President personally conveyed her appeal to Taro Nakayama, Japan’s leading constitutional reformist, when he paid a courtesy call on her recently. Two lawmakers have filed similar resolutions in Congress urging the administration to act quickly before Japan starts implementing its new immigration policy, warning that failing to do so could result in "serious economic problems and political unrest." Foreign affairs and labor officials have proposed a five-year moratorium, but Japan rejected it.
Another group of Filipino OPAs, meanwhile, is making its own "action plan" in preparation for the seeming inevitable enforcement of Tokyo’s revised employment rules.
In a statement, the Coalition of Sectoral Forces said it has drafted protective mechanisms such as the setting up of a government-run Filipino resource center and a welfare and monitoring center from the private sector, both of which will look after the well-being and protection of local entertainers. The group said it seeks to propose a two-year action plan that will institute reforms in the overseas entertainment industry as it strongly supports the campaign against human trafficking. For their part, the Federation of Talent/ Managers of the Philippines headed by Willie Espiritu is proposing to create an Entertainment Industry Board, or EIB, that will be tasked to formulate strategies and programs to develop, promote, stimulate and strengthen the Filipinos’ capabilities in the international entertainment market.
In a related development, the coalition announced that a multi-sectoral forum with government officials, legislators and nongovernment organizations will be held tomorrow, 2 p.m. at the Pope Pius Center along United Nations Avenue in Ermita, Manila. A signing among concerned parties will take place on the coalition’s proposed two-year action plan. — With Nestor Etolle
Reported by: Sol Jose Vanzi
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