The Commission on Human Rights recognizes the initiative of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and its partnership with the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) to provide safety mechanisms which ensure the protection of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) from illegal recruiters and traffickers.
Through a Memorandum of Agreement signed by the two agencies, this is envisioned to restore the assets of OFWs which had been collected by illegal recruiters and trafficking syndicates. Given the AMLC’s freeze-order capacities, the DMW can easily move forward in its investigation as this partnership allows them to request the freezing, tracking, and forfeiture of accounts of alleged perpetrators within and beyond the Philippine borders.
The CHR fully welcomes this collaboration as it will provide the additional support needed by OFWs in ensuring that the rights of migrant workers are constantly protected while securing accountability amongst violators of the law. We commend the efforts of both DMW and AMLC for their proactive stance in combating financial-related crimes which target OFWs.
With our shared goal towards securing the welfare of Filipino migrant workers, we are more than positive that this will further contribute to the overall goal of the Philippines to uphold its commitment under the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families to ensure that the fundamental rights of OFWs are constantly being provided without any distinction nor preference. To recognize the plight of OFWs, it is then necessary for the Philippine government to craft subsequent mechanisms and initiatives within the domestic scale.
CHR looks forward to this agreement between the DMW and AMLC as this will become instrumental to the advancement of migrant rights and ensure that no OFW will fall victim to illegal recruiters and trafficking syndicates ever again. Such will undoubtedly result in a positive progression to the lives of Filipino migrant workers, their families, and secure their respective futures free from any burden.###