Press Release
December 16, 2009

Pia urges European parliaments: Ratify convention
on migrant workers' rights

Appealing on behalf of the 700,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) currently deployed all over Europe, Senator Pia S. Cayetano has urged members of European parliaments to sign an international convention and pass legislation that would formally recognize the rights of migrant workers in their respective countries.

The President of the Committee of Women Parliamentarians of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), Cayetano was in Paris last week to address the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe held at the French National Assembly.

Cayetano made a presentation on the Philippine situation on the topic, "Migration and Violence Against Women," where she called on European parliaments to ratify the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families.

Entered into force in 2003, the UN instrument binds signatories to recognize migrant workers' rights and protect them and their families from various forms of discrimination.

Among European countries, only Turkey has so far ratified the convention, she noted.

"Protecting the rights and well-being of migrant workers, including our OFWs, must be guaranteed by European parliaments and their governments, considering that migrants make up ten percent of their population," the lady senator told the assembly attended by some 90 members of parliaments in the region.

"Without any doubt, migrants contribute to Europe's progress, but it is unfortunate that almost all European parliaments have stalled signing the convention," she added, noting that most of the OFWs in the region work as nurses, medical staff, household service workers, and hotel and restaurant personnel.

Cayetano explained that the treaty guarantees the rights of migrant workers to non-discrimination, life, liberty and security. It upholds migrants' rights to due process, privacy, national treatment in terms of remuneration and conditions of work, freedom of movement, and protecting the unity of their families.

After her presentation, Cayetano's call was echoed by Member of Parliament (MP) John Greenway of the United Kingdom, who reiterated the urgency for European countries to sign the convention on migrants' rights.

MP Farina Gianni of Italy particularly made a passionate response, saying he was shocked upon learning that most European countries have yet to ratify the agreement, adding that he couldn't imagine where Italy would be without its Filipino migrant workers.

Cayetano also urged the parliamentarians to support efforts to forge social security agreements (SSAs) between the Philippines and labor-receiving European countries. The SSAs ensure that migrant workers get to avail the same social security benefits as nationals of the host country under the latter's social security law.

The Philippines has so far signed such SSAs with six European countries: United Kingdom, Spain, France, Austria, Switzerland and Belgium.

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