Abstract
Human security in labor migration has mainly been analyzed in the literature from the perspective of the migrants’ receiving countries, which has overshadowed the point of view of the migrants’ sending countries. Focusing on the case of the Philippines, this chapter examines the divergent positions of the state and of non-state actors to find how a present sending society views labor migration in relation to human security. Analysis of the Philippine state’s actions reveals its ambivalent attitude regarding migration: on the one hand, the state promotes and deregulates labor migration to maximize profit, often at the expense of the human security of its migrant citizens; on the other hand, it tries to preserve the country’s honor and reputation abroad that appear to be particularly embodied in its women citizens. Contrastingly, the diverse viewpoints of non-state actors in the Philippines highlight the preservation of the family, the upholding of the national honor and the legal and social protection of the migrants, notably women. Far from putting an end to labor exportation, the emerging consensus is to facilitate a “secured” migration that respects the human rights and the well-being of the migrants.
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Notes
- 1.
The term “diaspora” originally meant the forced movement of Jews from their homeland and their subsequent quest for home driven by a collective memory of their past; however, this term is also used nowadays to describe other movements of people from their homeland, whether voluntary or forced.
- 2.
In 1980, the Welfare and Training Fund for Overseas Workers became the Welfare Fund for Overseas Workers under Presidential Decree no. 1694 of President Marcos. It was renamed in 1987 Overseas Workers Welfare Administration by the Executive Order no. 126 of President Aquino.
- 3.
Branches of OWWA can be found in Europe (England, Switzerland, Italy, Spain and Greece), in Asia (Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, Brunei, South Korea, Malaysia and Taiwan), in the Middle East (Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Israel, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Oman, Lebanon and Jordan), in the United States (Washington), and in the North Marianas Islands (Saipan).
- 4.
The Presidential Proclamation no. 243 signed by former president Estrada on 8 February 2000 formally recognized the economic role played by Filipino migrant workers abroad.
- 5.
They were the Commonwealth of Northern Marianas Islands, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Qatar, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan and United Kingdom.
- 6.
There are two systems of social security in the Philippines: the Government Service Insurance System for government employees and the Social Security System for those who work in the private sector. These institutions provide provisions in case of sickness, handicap, retirement and death.
- 7.
The branches are in Hong Kong (China), Taipei (Taiwan), Brunei Darussalam and Singapore in Asia; Riyadh, Jeddah and Al-Khobar (Saudi Arabia), Kuwait, Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates) and Doha (Qatar) in the Middle East; Rome and Milan (Italy), London (England) and Paris (France) in Europe; San Francisco and California (United States); and Sydney (Australia).
- 8.
The nine countries are Austria (since 1982); England, Northern Ireland, Spain, and France since 1989; Canada since 1997; Switzerland and Belgium since 2001; and South Korea since 2005.
- 9.
This is made possible by the signing of the Overseas Absentee Voting Act of 2003 by President Arroyo.
- 10.
The Citizenship Retention and Re-acquisition Act allows Filipino migrants to retain or reacquire their Filipino nationality when becoming nationals of another country. Under this law, Filipino migrants can now acquire foreign nationality and still be able to invest in commerce, to acquire properties and to reside in the Philippines.
- 11.
A person who has never worked as a domestic helper in the Philippines or in foreign countries and who wishes to take up this type of work abroad needs to follow the “Household Services Course” organized by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.
- 12.
It refers to the central government of the Roman Catholic Church.
- 13.
It is an organization representing the Catholic episcopacy of the Philippines.
- 14.
This commission was established before the founding in Rome of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerants in 1988.
- 15.
For instance, the Baptist, Methodist, Lutheran, Anglican and Ecumenical churches.
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Fresnoza-Flot, A. (2012). Security in Labor Migration in the Philippines: National Honor, Family Solidarity, and Migrants’ Protection. In: Teh Cheng Guan, B. (eds) Human Security. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-1799-2_5
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