Manila, Philippines—In light of the plight of our overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), VeritĂ© is holding a free symposium on the recruitment process and working conditions of migrant Filipino workers in Japan, “Overseas Workers in Japan: Promises and Risks.” The symposium took place on September 12 from 2:00PM to 6:00PM at the GT Toyota Building, Asian Studies Center in UP Diliman.
The same symposium will also be held at the Kawasaki Hotel Nikko in Tokyo on September 28 for the OFW community, labor rights advocates, policymakers, and ethical employment practitioners in Japan.
The symposium will begin with a viewing of the short documentary titled ”IjĹ«-sha: Reportage on Filipino Workers in Japan,” written and directed by Harris Guevarra, that features overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their stories of the hardships and opportunities they encountered abroad.
This will be followed by speeches and remarks from known authorities and labor rights advocates. Among the speakers is Vice President Leni Robredo, known for her involvement in grassroots projects and community service, who will share her views on migration.
After the speeches, the floor will be opened for the symposium, where guests will be encouraged to participate in a discussion of our OFWs’ respective situations and think of the ways they can help the OFWs through the Philippines’ and Japan’s labor laws. Experts from VeritĂ© and representatives from the government and NGOs will lead the discussion and lay down frameworks for improved systems. Refreshments will be served after the discussions and guests will have a chance to build networks and further discuss the topic.
The event is expected to be a milestone in the long battle to secure the rights of our fellow Filipinos working abroad and ensure that they are earning the due benefits they are working for. Key stakeholders and partners from the government, private sector, civil society, and academe are encouraged to attend the event and discuss ways to minimize risks and maximize benefits for our migrant workers.
IJĹŞ-SHA: ABOUT THE FILM
Ijū-sha looks into the lives of our migrant Filipino workers in Japan through stories from returned worker, a jobseeker, and a currently employed OFW in Japan. The stories of Filipino migrant workers in Japan are told primarily by three women: Rose, Cecile, and Sugar.
Their personalities and lives differ from each other, but their stories of life as workers and their aspirations and motivations for working abroad echo the same struggle for livelihood, challenges brought about by foreign culture and laws, and desire for a better future. Each storyteller shares her hardships, those of which we’ve come to associate with working abroad. But these sacrifices also come with hard-earned successes, unbridled happiness, and euphoric reunions.
The documentary begins with the women sharing their reasons for wanting to work in Japan. Some of them want to experience snow, while some of them want to work with the Japanese because they know them to be kind and respectful people. Cecile cites the most common, yet most important reason: “Nung 18 po ako, kaya ko naisipan mag-Japan, dahil sa hirap ng buhay sa Pilipinas.” (When I was 18, I thought of going to Japan because life in the Philippines is really hard.) These women, like most OFWs, found Japan attractive because of the opportunities it presented.
Cecile, who worked as an entertainer, recounts how she was always amazed at her friend who worked in Japan and always brought back to the Philippines many goods and expensive jewelry. It was this friend who suggested that Cecile apply as a performer in Japan. “Pagdating ko doon, excited akong maging singer, kinakanta ko si Whitney Houston!” (When I got there, I was so excited to become a singer—I kept singing Whitney Houston songs!) Cecile shared her excitement then. But this excitement is soon replaced by disappointment and apprehension when she realizes that the job and place was not what she expected. The contracts, which should have been theirs to read, were only read by their managers.
The documentary investigates the exploitation of migrant workers and the unfair treatments and abusive employment they endure. The documentary also features key persons in the government and NGOs involved in the promotion of labor rights and OFW welfare, as well as authorities in Japan: Danilo Navarro, President of the Association of Philippine Licensed Agencies for Technical Internship Program, Inc. (APLATIP); Rose Otero-Yamanaka, Director of Batis Center for Women; Maria Luz Tolentino, Labor Attaché of the Philippine Embassy in Japan; Takeshi Yumoto, CSR Supply Chain General Manager of Teijin; Ellene Sana, Executive Director of the Center for Migrant Advocacy; Virgie Ishihara, Director of the Filipino Migrant Center in Nagoya, Japan; Marie Apostol, Director of FAIR Hiring Initiative and Founder of Verité Southeast Asia; and Takashi Ueno, entrepreneur and greenhorn in the recruitment business.
These social workers and government personnel illustrate the recruitment and migration process and share the loopholes being exploited by agencies and brokers. They also provide solutions and certain actions we can take to help protect our migrant workers from exploitation, such as policy advocacy and crisis intervention. Marie Apostol cites their projects “to demonstrate ethical recruitment standards based on the VeritĂ© Manpower Ethical Framework for cross-border recruitment.” All in all, they stress the important role of legislative bodies, lobbyists, policy watchers, and labor authorities in ensuring that our OFWs enjoy fair hiring processes, and safe and clear-cut employment.
The documentary closes with a reminder of why Filipinos seek jobs abroad. There are opportunities in migration and finding work overseas. Writer and Director Harris Guevarra, who followed and interviewed migrants in Tokyo, Nagoya, and Osaka for the documentary, said, “IjĹ«-sha is a candid glimpse into the lives of our OFWs in Japan—a trunk line for our fellow Filipinos whose stories disappear into language barriers and the vast ocean separating them from home.”
VERITÉ, LABOR RIGHTS, AND FAIR EMPLOYMENT
Since its inception, VeritĂ© has been a staunch defender and promoter of labor rights. Child labor, slavery, employment and workplace discrimination, unfair and dangerous working conditions, and insufficient compensation or unpaid work—these span the vast range of labor issues that the organization seeks to solve.
For this particular event, Verité wishes to shine a brighter light on the problems that OFWs encounter, specifically in Japan where many of our fellow Filipinos go to find work and experience their culture. The organization hopes that the closer and intimate look into the experiences and dreams of our migrant workers, as well as the discussions that will follow, will foster a deeper understanding of the issue and spur other organizations and the government to action.
IjĹ«-sha, the documentary that will be shown at the start of the event, was also done in partnership with VeritĂ©. Daryll Delgado of VeritĂ© Southeast Asia believes that the documentary is not only a window to look into the lives of OFWs in Japan, but also a door of opportunity for us to take action on labor rights and migrant worker welfare: “We are imploring viewers to listen and take to heart the stories, lessons, and ideas imparted by the OFWs and labor rights advocates we interviewed. This documentary should serve as both an eye-opener and an inspiration for us to begin criticizing and improving our labor system.”
Lastly, the symposium is not just an avenue for raising awareness and inspiring action, but also for labor rights advocates to network and build partnerships with like-minded individuals and organizations. Through this event, Verité hopes that both Philippine and Japanese governments, along with other NGOs, recruitment agencies, and labor rights advocates, will begin to work together for the benefit of our OFWs today and in the future, as well as their families in the home country.
A staunch supporter of the arts, the Pioneer Group of insurance companies constantly finds fresh ways to reach out to the Filipino with insurance that covers what they value most. Finding inspiration in media such as visual arts, film, music, and theater, Pioneer gives back by sponsoring, covering, and promoting events and concerts, which include BeyoncĂ©’s "The BeyoncĂ© Experience: Live in Taguig,” Eraserheads’ “The Final Set,” Aerosmith’s “The Global Warming Tour,” Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way Ball,” Jennifer Lopez’s “Dance Again World Tour,” and Madonna’s “Rebel Heart Tour,”as well as music festivals such as Good Vybes, Wanderland, Paradise International Music Festival, and MTV Music Evolution 2016. 
