PRRD continues to push for abolition of Kafala
THE Philippines continues to push for the abolition of Kafala system in an effort to further protect the hundreds of thousands of Filipino workers in the Middle East.
Kafala or sponsorship, is a system that gives private citizens and companies in the Arab Gulf countries almost total control over migrant workers’ employment and immigration status. President Rodrigo Duterte has been communicating with the leaders of Middle East countries to abolish the system over reports of human rights abuses, racism, and gender discrimination.
Presidential Assistant on Foreign Affairs and Chief of Presidential Protocol Robert Borje, during a “Laging Handa” briefing said “the DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) and DOLE (Department of Labor and Employment) have been at the frontlines of engaging our different partners. Matagal na ito na partnership pero mas napapaigting pa ngayon dahil at the leaders level na ang may direct message on this.
“Sa likod po nito at tahimik po, si Pangulong Duterte ay sumusulat sa kanyang mga counterparts, sa mga leaders, Their Majesties pagkatapos ay nagpapadala ng special envoys at kung may pagkakataon ay pinaparating niya ang kanyang mga saloobin at patuloy ito na nangyayari hanggang ngayon,” he added.
Borje said Duterte’s public call last Tuesday was also a significant move to rally other states to start implementing similar labor reforms. Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, and Bahrain have already started implementing labor reforms.
Duterte has said the kafala system is unjust, exploitative and places thousands of migrant workers—particularly in-household workers—in the most vulnerable situation, unseen, unheard, and unable to defend their dignity.
“I think as we speak, because of this, a lot of governments from the Middle East are reaching out again to the DFA to find ways not to only move it forward but to move it forward a little bit faster,” he said.
“It’s a risky move for the President because it’s something that’s not really talked about in the open. It’s couched under different terms, hindi sinasabi na Kafala system ang problema pero para kay Pangulong Duterte, he tackled it head-on na ang Kafala system ay talagang dapat mabuwag,” he added.
Kafala originated from the Arabic word which means “sponsorship”. Under this system, a worker cannot leave the employer or transfer for better working conditions, without the consent of the present employer-sponsor.
