WHEN I landed in Manila in 2017 for a holiday, I was greeted by signs at the airport welcoming ‘Bagong Bayani’, a term coined by President Corazon Aquino in 1988 to describe Overseas Filipino Workers. ‘Bagong Bayani’ means new (or modern) heroes, and she used it to recognise OFW contributions to the socioeconomic development of the Philippines. When I visited, there were around 2.3 million OFW working in 200 countries, according to official figures. Their remittances account for 10 per cent of their country’s GDP. A majority of OFW are women.

OFWs are so revered that earlier this year, two of the Manila airport terminals built a lounge for just them where they have special facilities. This may seem cosmetic but given how our migrant workers haven’t received a smidgeon of recognition for their contributions, I think it’s nice. The feelings of appreciation for OFWs were visibly palpable, and cut across class, when I visited.

While I don’t think anyone should be described as a hero for keeping a country’s economy afloat — rarely do workers leave because they want to — I appreciate governments that honour a group’s contributions.

Overseas workers make a lot of personal sacrifices and often endure despicable working conditions in order to send money back home. This is especially true for women employed in the domestic sector. We’ve all read horrible stories about the abuse faced by migrant workers across sectors, and they’ve had little help from their embassies. A few years ago, Indonesia, for example, protested at not being informed about the execution of their citizens in Saudi Arabia. Indonesia has placed, and then lifted, restrictions on domestic workers to 21 Middle Eastern countries since 2015. The trouble is that Indonesians defy the ban or demand its lifting because so many need the jobs.

Overseas workers often endure despicable working conditions.

The list of recorded abuses against Filipino workers is shocking. At least 24,000 cases of abuse and violation of OFW were reported in Kuwait in 2022. The gruesome death of domestic worker Jullebee Ranara, whose charred body was found in a desert in January 2023, sent shockwaves across the Philippines and prompted the government to halt first-time workers from going to Kuwait. In 2018, the then government imposed a ban on OFW from going to Kuwait following the discovery of domestic worker Joanna Demafelis’ body in a freezer at an abandoned building. The ban was partially lifted before it was again reinstated in 2020 after two domestic workers were tortured to death. It was lifted when one of the worker’s employers was charged and sentenced to death for the murder.

On the surface it may seem a flip-flopping of policies but it also demonstrates the state taking workers’ rights seriously; they’re standing up for them when they negotiate for them with the countries where the abuse and violations are taking place.

There are several groups campaigning for the rights of OFW; they say government efforts are not enough. Some of these advocacy groups have been ‘red tagged’ by the Philippines government — according to the Guardian — which blacklists or harasses organisations critical of the government. This strategy sounds familiar.

Filipinos, Pakistani construction workers and other Asians, have been treated as exports by their countries. Instead of calling them heroes, which suggests they face risks willingly, let us ensure they never become victims of abuse, exploitation, bad policies or neglect. Let us accept that they do not willingly accept the risks that come with migration. Let us not place the burden of reviving the economy on their shoulders.

The State Bank of Pakistan last month said inflow of overseas workers’ remittances stood at $3.052 billion in October 2024, which was a “substantial” 24pc increase from the same month of the year before. In July this year, they saw a 48pc compared to the month the year before.

Along with the upward trajectory of the economy, I’d love to see Pakistan take a leaf from Asian countries and do more for overseas workers. I recognise countries negotiate for better conditions, for example, but I’m talking about taking stronger positions. A ban on workers leaving for X country impacts that country’s economy. It sends a powerful message to both citizens and the host country about their commitment to taking strong action. But it’s not a long-term solution. Stronger policies to protect migrant workers’ rights is imperative. There are gaps that allow for the exploitation and abuse of workers, from non-payment of salaries, to terrible working conditions to not being able to switch jobs.

Pakistanis are dying to leave this country but those who don’t make it are stuck in limbo and need our help. Don’t degrade them by labelling them as heroes. They are victims of someone’s follies.

The writer is an instructor of journalism.

X: @LedeingLady

Published in Dawn, December 29th, 2024