Philippines United Arab Emirates Corridor Dovelyn Rannveig Agunias Policy Analyst MPI June 3 2010 Washington DC Outline 1 Agencies Value vs Cost 2 Key Regulatory Challenges ID: 1029590
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1. Migrations’ MiddlemenRegulating Recruitment Agencies in the Philippines - United Arab Emirates Corridor Dovelyn Rannveig AguniasPolicy Analyst, MPIJune 3, 2010Washington, DC
2. Outline 1. Agencies’ Value vs. Cost 2. Key Regulatory Challenges 3. A Three Tier Labor Migration System 4. Policy Options
3. 1. Agencies’ Value vs. Cost Value: Provide information, matching assistance and many kinds of logistical support while in the Philippines and upon arrival in the UAE. Cost: Charge excessive or unauthorized fees, engage in fraud and deceit and activities that border on human rights abuse
4. 2. Key Regulatory ChallengesPolicy mismatch on: who can participate in overseas employmentthe allowable fees recruiters can charge migrants terms and conditions that must be included in every contract
5. Domestic Worker Entitlements Under Philippine RegulationUS$400 minimum monthly wagecontinuous rest of at least eight hours per daypaid vacation of not less than 15 calendar days for every year of serviceemployer assistance in remitting a percentage of salary through proper banking channelsno salary deductionsno confiscation of passport and work permitpersonal life, accident, medical, and repatriation insurancefree roundtrip economy-class air ticket or money equivalent in case of contract renewalSource: POEA, Guidelines on the Implementation of the Reform Package Affecting Household Service Workers.
6. 2. Key Regulatory Challenges Difficulties in implementationmonitor the welfare of workers
7. Services Rendered to Migrant Workers at the Philippine Consulate in Dubai, First Three Quarters, 2008 and 2009Services20082009Monthly average for 2009Daily average for 2009Verify documents Employment contract7,7129,7381,08249Recruitment agreement480238261Manning agreement7710Special power of attorney735316352Job orders1,170631703Trade licenses738294331Issue overseas employment certificates 20,39524,1872,687122Provide legal counseling25,02528,4503,161144Visit hospitals 7886100Visit jails 150239271Provide medical assistance 282650723Answer queries through a 24-hour hotline29,11034,3003,811173Repatriate distressed workers 457668743Accept runaways to Filipino Resource Centers8359601075
8. Reasons for Seeking Refuge at Filipino Workers Resource Center, December 20091.Noncompliance with the minimum salary of US$400 per month 1192. Delayed payment of monthly salary combined with 117Long working hours98 Lack of food 95Verbal abuse93 Overwork 55Sexual assault/harassment14Physical cruelty 6Rape4
9. 2. Key Regulatory Challenges Difficulties in implementationmonitor the welfare of workersestablish an adjudication system that migrants with complaints are willing to use
10. Top Ten Complaints against Employers and Recruiters in the United Arab Emirates, 2009 Against employersAgainst recruiters Overworked (cleaned more than one house or worked more than 18 hours per day) 117Agency did not provide help 13Physically maltreated84Migrant escaped from the agency 11Not paid or underpaid 72Returned by the employer to the agency 7Denied food 53Agency substituted contract 7Verbally abused30Migrant did not want to return to the agency for fear of abuse6Sexually harassed15Returned by the agency to an abusive employer5Wrongly accused of theft 11Physically maltreated by agency personnel4Threatened death or incarceration 13Rejected by the agency after being returned by employer4Not allowed to go home and not allowed to terminate contractRaped 94Lost contact with the agency in Dubai Agency planned to send worker to another country without worker consent11 [KK1]This has nine complaints for each column, not ten - please check
11. Isolated Cases or Tip of the Iceberg? Recruitment Violation Cases by Type of Complaint, 2008Status of Cases Filed in 2008 as of October 2009
12. A Three Tier Labor Migration System
13. Policy OptionsKeep Low-Skilled Migration Low
14. Demand and Supply Deployment of New Hires to the UAE, Domestic Workers and Professional, Technical and Related Workers, 1997 to 2008Top Ten Approved Job Orders to the United Arab Emirates, 2005 to 2009
15. Policy OptionsKeep low-skilled migration lowMake it harder for unscrupulous recruitment agencies to receive and keep a license
16. Proportion of Filipino Recruiters by the Number of Workers Sent to the United Arab Emirates, 2000 to 2009
17. Changing Rules AND Changing Ways Changing Rules Compatible and enforceable rules Allowable feesStandard contractsAgency liabilityCapable institutions Empowered migrantsfully fund existing institutions
18. Dovelyn Rannveig AguniasPolicy Analyst, MPIDagunias@migrationpolicy.org1-202-266-1925For more information: