ASEAN Agreement on Migrants to worsen OFW condition

CEBU CITY – Militant labor federation Alyansa sa Mamumuo sa Sugbo – Kilusang Mayo Uno (AMA-Sugbo-KMU) dismissed the proposed declaration on migrant workers to be signed during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit as an attempt to further degrade the plight of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

AMA-Sugbo-KMU doubted that the declaration, which includes a provision to make equal salaries of migrant workers in the region, will lead to better pay for the country’s multiplying number of OFWs. Instead, they described the proposed agreement as an instrument by multinational companies to lower wage standards of migrant workers across the Southeast Asian region.

Wennie Badayos, chairperson of AMA-Sugbo-KMU, pointed out that compared to other labor exporting countries such as Vietnam, Cambodia and Indonesia, the Philippines have a higher minimum wage standard for its workers. “If will make the wages uniform in the region, it will be to our disadvantage. Only large companies from the U.S., Japan and other developed countries will benefit from this,” he added.

“While millions of our workers are forced to separate with their families and venture into foreign lands in the hope of earning better salaries, this proposal will break this dream for higher monetary allotment for the families they leave,” said Badayos.

The minimum daily wage in Metro Manila is Php350 or $7.11 (at Php49.23 exchange rate). Cebu, the country’s second urban center, has Php241 daily wage or $4.90.

Data from the National Wages and Productivity Commission states that daily wages in neighboring Vietnam, Cambodia and Indonesia ranges from $0.97 to only $2.64. Thailand which hosts OFWs only has $4.87 as daily pay.

“Our current minimum wages is very meager that is why workers have been clamoring for a Php125 increase. With the agreement, the workers gains in the pay hike campaign would be put to naught,” ended Badayos.