Financial Crime World

Combating Financial Exploitation and Human Trafficking: Philippines Establishes New Agency to Protect OFWs

The Philippine government has taken a significant step to protect Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) from financial exploitation and human trafficking by establishing the Department of Migrant Workers. This new agency is mandated to investigate illegal recruitment and human trafficking cases involving OFWs.

Partnership for Counter-Trafficking Measures

The creation of the Department was made possible through a partnership between Ople Center, a non-government organization (NGO), and ASEAN-ACT. This partnership ensured that counter-trafficking measures were included in the legislation. Ople Center works closely with provincial and national government levels to ensure that measures are taken to prevent trafficking.

Coalition Against Trafficking of OFWs

Through its Coalition Against Trafficking of OFWs (CAT-OFW), members lobbied for stronger counter-trafficking measures and the inclusion of a blacklist of agencies and corporations involved in human trafficking. The new Department will also be a member of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT), where it will work closely with the Department of Justice to investigate, prosecute, and help victims of trafficking.

Statistics on OFWs

  • Over 2.2 million OFWs are deployed internationally at any given time.
  • Most OFWs work in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
  • Over 50% of these workers are women, mostly domestic workers, who are vulnerable to exploitation, abuse, and trafficking.

Research Findings

  • According to estimates by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Asia Pacific, in 2020, 75% of cases of abuse received by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) involved female overseas migrant workers.
  • A study by IACAT, Ople Center, and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) highlighted the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on OFWs.

Impact of Pandemic

  • 83% of over 500,000 returned OFWs had not secured employment in the Philippines within three months of their return.
  • 59% were unable to receive compensation.
  • Many OFWs remain stranded in their countries of work due to the pandemic and are increasingly vulnerable to human trafficking.

Ople Center’s Work

Ople Center works with government agencies to identify and strengthen gaps through advocacy and representation of the realities faced by OFWs and other vulnerable groups. The organization is also working with ASEAN-ACT to develop a roadmap for ensuring the sustainability of good practices and access to justice and reintegration services for OFWs who are vulnerable to trafficking.

Achievements

  • Ople Center has assisted 2,294 women domestic workers.
  • The organization has investigated 233 cases and filed criminal and administrative charges resulting in three landmark convictions.
  • Ople Center has supported 596 domestic workers who were victims of abuse and exploitation by providing livelihood training and start-up capital for their own businesses.