Polo-tokyo 1st Quarter Accomplishment Report 2009

POLO-Tokyo First Quarter Accomplishment Report

Introduction As the world economic crisis unfolds, it is becoming more obvious that no nation could remain unaffected by it, including Japan. Although many countries had been comparatively less exposed to the crisis thus far, they remain vulnerable to the global economic slowdown with probable negative effects on domestic demand, export earnings, and remittances. But the impact of the world crisis on Japan is unlike anything it has experienced until now. Japan had enjoyed ongoing export-led growth and the current crisis had dealt it a severe blow. During the last quarter of 2008, the Japanese economy was hardest hit (-12.7 percent) compared to the US (-6.2 percent) or the EU (-5.7 percent). Moreover, Japan is projected to incur a double-digit negative growth in the first quarter of 2009. The most serious issue that Japan now faces is to prevent the weakening of its real economy and the dwindling of financial credit. Under these circumstances, the Japanese government must implement a large-scale stimulus plan to overcome the ongoing crisis. According to the Japanese government, it will compile the 2009 supplementary budget with actual fiscal spending of more than 10 trillion yen. The success of this economic stimulus package will be crucial and without doubt will become a powerful stimulant for the Japanese economy. These issues notwithstanding, POLO-Tokyo pursued its objectives of employment facilitation, OFW protection and welfare services, policy advocacy and networking for the period ended March 2009. The following are the highlights of POLO-Tokyo’s accomplishments during the period covered: Employment Facilitation On-site Verification of Employment Contracts. The number of companies recommended to POEA for accreditation as principals expanded by about eighteen (18) times (+465) in the period ended March 2009. This figure is mainly due to the resumption of the authentication and/or verification of documents for Filipino performing artists in Japan which started last September 2008. As a consequence, the Post referred to POEA a total of 492 companies from 27 companies recorded last year (Table 1). 1

Table 1: On-site Verification of Employment Contracts and Issuance of OECs and ECCs, First Quarter 2009 1Q 2009

1Q 2008

Increment

Number of Contracts Recommended For Registration to POEA

492

27

+465

Number of OECs Issued

323

313

+10

Total Amount Collected from OEC Fee (In Local Currency: Yen)

93,750

234,750

Number of ECCs Issued

29

49

-20

Source: POLO Tokyo, 2009

On-site Issuance of Overseas Employment Certificates (OEC). From January to March 2009, the number of OECs issued on-site grew by 3.19 percent or 323 OECs issued benefiting the same number of OFWs compared to 313 OECs issued on the same period last year. This figure, however, did not translate to an increase in the total amount collected from the payment of the OEC fee (from ¥234,750 of last year to ¥93,750 this year) due mainly to a decrease in the collection fee amount of ¥750 per OEC last year to just ¥200 per OEC starting February this year. On-site Issuance of Escrow Clearance Certificates (ECC). Escrow clearance certificates (ECCs) were also issued at Post to assist principals who were withdrawing escrow bond deposits because of cessation of their business operations. From January to March this year, 29 ECCs were issued which is lower compared to the 49 ECCs issued last year. Surprisingly, this figure is lower than earlier expected considering the economic setback brought about by the global financial crisis. Jobs Fair 2009. On 29 March 2009, IPS, Inc. launched a jobs fair in Tokyo where members of the Filipino community were able to gain access to productive and remunerative employment in the metropolis. The event was billed, “Pinoy Life Fair 2009” and Post actively participated in said event. Labor Attaché Danilo P. Cruz gave a special message during the opening ceremonies.

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Social Protection and Welfare Services for OFWs OWWA Membership Promotion Program. OWWA POLO-Tokyo’s Membership Promotion Program during the first quarter of 2009 resulted in the enrolment or renewal of membership of 153 OFWs in OWWA – an increase of about 62 percent (+58) from the year ago OWWA membership. Total revenue collection reached ¥347,977 which is 31 percent higher than the amount collected during the same period last year (Table 2). Table 2: Number of OFWs Enrolled to the OWWA Membership Program, First Quarter 2009 1Q 2009

1Q 2008

Increment

Number of OWWA Membership

153

95

+58

Total Amount Collected from Membership Fee (In Local Currency: Yen)

347,977

265,200

Source: POLO Tokyo, 2009

Workers Assistance Program. Post handled a total of 31 welfare cases during the first three months of the year, which is 16.22 percent lower than the 37 cases recorded during the same quarter last year. Of the 31 welfare cases, some forty-eight (48) workers were involved complaining about illegal recruitment, unpaid salaries, maltreatment, confiscation of passports, sexual assault, and contract violations. Some cases also involved request for repatriation, temporary shelter, legal advice, report of status of detention and whereabouts, and assistance in filing insurance claim and in securing travel documents. Out of the 31 cases managed by the Post, 18 were resolved or closed while the rest remained pending for resolution at the end of the first quarter. Reintegration. Post teamed up with the Love and Acceptance Hands-on Integrity (LAHI) Association, a Filipino community organization based in Ibaraki and Tochige prefectures, to conduct a One-day Computer Training Program at the Ibaraki Ken Kensei Learning Center on 28 February 2009.

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Repatriation. Post recorded 8 cases of on-site repatriation assistance (7 distressed and 1 medical) during the period. Most of those provided repatriation assistance were female workers in the Japanese entertainment industry. The services provided include provision of transfer assistance to airport and temporary shelter; facilitation of issuance of travel documents; and coordination with concerned employers, agencies and government authorities. These cases were also coordinated with OWWA RAD for airport transfer, ambulance and legal assistance. Employers shouldered the repatriation expenses in most cases. On-site Networking and Linkages Creation of networks and linkages are an essential component of the development program at the Post. The aim is to explore and sustain cooperation with both local and international institutions for purposes of resources sharing by way of conferences and seminars, professional or worksite and welfare-related visits, publication exchanges and donations. On 31 March 2009, LAHI Association President Maria Wena Inoue informed the Post that sixteen (16) Japanese elementary schools made a pledge of support to the "Classroom, Galing sa Mamamayang Pilipino Abroad" (CGMA) project of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). Together with the donation from the LAHI Association, a total of ¥400,000 was acknowledged by Labor Attaché Danilo P. Cruz for the donate-a-classroom project of DOLE. The donors identified the Gandara Central Elementary School in Samar, Leyte as their beneficiaries. On 22 February 2009, the PML or the Philippine Men’s League (Tokyo, Japan) held its Induction of Officers and New Members at the Meguro-Satsuki Kaikan. Labor Attaché Danilo P. Cruz led the induction of the new members of the PML. Post also participated in the Annual General Meeting of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Japan (PCCIJ) which was held at the Philippine Embassy last 25 February 2009. 4

Policy Advocacy During the first three (3) months of the year, Post participated in the seminar organized by ILO-Japan and the ILO Association of Japan entitled, “Employment and Labour Trends in China under the Global Economic Crisis,” held last 29 January 2009. The theme of the seminar centered on the effects of the current crisis on China’s labour and employment aspects. A Memorandum of Cooperation on the Development of Asian Seafarers was agreed upon between DOLE and the Japan Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLITT) last 12 March 2009. On that same day, Post actively participated in the policy forum, “Japan-Philippines Seafarer Policy Forum” held at the Mita Kaigisho Special Meeting Room. The purpose of the forum was to deepen the understanding of participants about the International Cooperative Training Project for Asian Seafarers particularly between the Philippines and Japan.

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