3rd Quarter 2009 Accomplishment Report

8/14/2019 3rd Quarter 2009 Accomplishment Report

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POLO-Tokyo

Third Quarter 2009 Accomplishment Report

Introduction

According to Japans major newspapers1, the governments tankan survey showed that

Japanese companies are more optimistic now compared to three (3) months ago.

Aggressive spending by Japans trade partners, especially China, has helped push export

demand and factory output allowing industrial output in August to rise 1.8 percent from

the previous month. Household spending also rose 2.6 percent from a year earlier despite a

two (2) percent drop in average monthly income. But while business confidence is upbeat

compared to before, companies remain anxious about investing in workers or factories.

Falling investments in plant and equipment and a sluggish domestic demand still remain

causes of concern particularly among small and medium companies.

At the employment front, the situation remains weak despite the jobless rate improving

slightly in seven (7) months. Government economic data revealed that the unemployment

rate fell slightly to 5.5 percent in August from a high of 5.7 percent the previous month. But

the total number of those who are unemployed increased 890,000 to 3.61 million from a

year ago. The overall ratio of job offers to job seekers remained at a record low of 0.42. This

means that there were only about 42 job offers for every 100 job seekers. Moreover, it is

possible that in the coming months, the labor market could get worse as the benefits

created by the economic stimulus measures by the Aso government are expected to narrow

down and companies are likely to mount additional job and wage cuts to boost company

profitability this year. According to one report, about 239,000 nonregular workers are

expected to lose their jobs between October 2008 and December this year due totermination of employment contracts. Temporary workers dispatched by recruitment

companies and/or staffing agencies will account for 60 percent of these, or about 142,000

workers. Regular and full-time workers, about 48,000 of them, are expected to lose their

jobs in the same period. Clearly, the global financial crisis, despite signs of bottoming out,

has put Japans economy in a painful situation and is threatening the economic well-being

of its people. Overall, the labor market is quite bleak and the economic outlook remains

uncertain. The election win by the Democratic Party of Japan could lead to brighter

prospects and an opportunity for much stronger economic recovery abilities which could,

in the longer term, translate to more positive economic implications.

Against this backdrop, POLO-Tokyo pursued its objectives of employment facilitation, OFWprotection and welfare services, policy advocacy and networking for the period ended

September 2009. The following are the highlights of POLO-Tokyos accomplishments

during the period covered:

1As reported in the October 2, 2009 issue of the Asahi Shimbun, and the October 3, 2009 issue of the

Japan Times.


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Employment Facilitation

Confirmation of Procedures Related to Employment Contracts. The number of

companies recommended to POEA for accreditation as principals expanded by about four(4) times (+323) in the period ended September 2009. This figure is mainly due to the new

policy of instituting a recommendation process in lieu of authentication and/or verification

of documents for Filipino performing artists in Japan since September 2008. As a

consequence, the Post referred to POEA a total of 432 companies from 109 companies

recorded last year (Table 1).

Table 1: Confirmation of Procedures Related to Employment Contracts and Issuance of OECs and ECCs,

Third Quarter 2009

3Q 2009 3Q 2008 Increment

Number of Contracts RecommendedFor Registration to POEA 432 109 +323

Number of OECs Issued 449 397 +52

Total Amount Collected from OEC Fee(In Local Currency: Yen) 112,250 297,750 -185,500

Number of ECCs Issued 14 32 -18

Source: POLO Tokyo, 3rd Quarter 2009

On-site Issuance of Overseas Employment Certificates (OEC). From July to September2009, the number of OECs issued on-site totaled 449 (up by 13.10 percent) OECs issued

benefiting the same number of OFWs compared to 397 OECs issued on the same period last

year. This figure translated to about 112,250 collected for the payment of the OEC fee

which is 62.30 percent lower than the amount collected last year. This is due mainly to a

decrease in the collection fee amount from 750 per OEC last year to just 200 per OEC in

February and 250 starting May 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 July to September this

year, 14 ECCs were issued which is 56.25 percent lower compared to the 32 ECCs issued

last year.

On-site Verification/Review of Documents. The verification/review of documentsrelated to the hiring of Filipino workers basically ensures that the contract (between the

Filipino worker and his employer in Japan) is in compliance with POEA rules and

regulations and its terms and conditions are at par with what is prescribed under Japanese


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laws and standards. For the third quarter of 2009, about 44 documents were verified by

POLO-Tokyo, benefiting 1,197 workers. Verified documents during the first half of 2009

involved contracts of mostly overseas performing artists (1,061) and engineers and other

skilled workers/professionals (124). Looking more closely at these figures, the number of

skilled workers involved decreased by 37 percent from 196 to 124 workers, due mainly to

cost-cutting measures implemented by many small and mid-sized employers. In contrast,the number of overseas performing artists involved was not as greatly affected but instead

grew by 31 percent from 810 last year to 1,061 requests for overseas performing artists in

the third quarter of 2009.

Table 2: On-site Verification of Documents, Third Quarter 2009


Total Number of Documents Verified On-site 44 48 -4

Job Orders 11 12 -1

Recruitment Agreements 11 11 0Manning Agreements 0 1 -1Special Power of Attorney 11 12 -1Trade License (Company Registration) 11 12 -1

Total Number of Workers Involved (as per Job Order) 1197 1038 +159

HSWs 12 14 +2Overseas Performing Artists 1061 810 +251Seafarers/Manning Personnel 0 18 -18Skilled Workers (i.e., engineers, IT workers) 124 196 -72


Labor Market Information. As of end of September 2009, Post prepared a total of 26

reports which included policy recommendations forwarded to DOLE Head office.

Social Protection and Welfare Services for OFWs

OWWA Membership Promotion Program. OWWA Membership Promotion Program

during the third quarter of 2009 resulted in the enrolment or renewal of membership of

257 OFWs in OWWA an increase of about 74 percent (+109) from the year ago OWWA

membership. Total revenue collection reached USD 6,455.36 which increased by 79percent compared to the amount collected during the same period last year (Table 3).

Workers Assistance Program. Post handled a total of 37 welfare cases during the third

quarter of the year, which is 31 percent lower than the 54 cases recorded last year. Of these

cases, some 37 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


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status of detention and whereabouts, and assistance in filing insurance claim and in

securing travel documents. Out of the 37 cases managed by the Post, 20 were resolved or

closed while the rest remained pending for resolution at the end of the September 2009.

Table 3: Number of OFWs Enrolled to the OWWA Membership Program, Third Quarter 2009


Number of OWWA Membership 289 148 +141

Total Amount Collected fromMembership Fee(Currency: USD)

6,455.36 3,603.31 +2,852.05


Repatriation. Post recorded three (3) cases of on-site repatriation assistance during the

period in review. Repatriation assistance included provision of transfer assistance toairport 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.

Policy Advocacy

Post updated its Report to Congress on the working conditions of and problems

encountered by OFWs in Japan, recommending policy interventions designed to minimize if

not eliminate unfavorable working conditions for skilled Filipino professionals about towork in Japan.

On 24 September 2009, Post participated in the Tokyo Conference on Japanese-Filipino

Children organized by the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The Tokyo

conference is a follow-up activity to the first National Conference in Manila in June this year.

The Tokyo conference will build upon the objectives and results of the Manila Conference.

On-site Networking, Linkages and Other Key Activities

Creation of networks and linkages are an essential component of the development programat 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.


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On 19 July 2009, Post participated in the Filipino-Japanese Friendship Ceremony and

Induction of the 2009 United Filipinos for Peace and Advancement (UFPA) Officers

Ceremony in Kawasaki City. Labor Attach Danilo P. Cruz was the guest of honor and

induction officer during the event.

The labor office spearheaded an outdoor get-together held last 09 August 2009 for theFilipino community representatives in Tokyo. The gathering was in appreciation for the

participation and efforts made by them in relation to the recent visit of President Gloria

Macapagal Arroyo to Japan.

On 06 September 2009, Labor Attach Danilo P. Cruz was the guest of honor and induction

officer at the Japan Association of Novo Ecijanos (JANE) Induction of Officers Ceremony in

Tokyo.

On 29 September 2009, Japan International Training Cooperation Organization (JITCO)

commenced the opening ceremony of its Support Program for Japanese Language

Education Prior to Dispatch (JLEPD). Labor Attach Danilo P. Cruz delivered a speech


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during the ceremony. In the afternoon, Filipino participants to the JLEPD program visited

the Philippine Embassy. Consul General Sulpicio M. Confiado and Labor Attach Danilo P.

Cruz welcomed the participants and shared afternoon snacks with them.

JPEPA Nurses and Caregivers

Observation Mission. On 14-15 August2009, Labor Attach Danilo P. Cruz and

Welfare Officer Ma. Luz L. Talento visited

two (2) facilities in Okayama Prefecture,

namely Momotaro Rehabilitation Center and

the Kibikogen Synthetic Welfare Center. On

the second day, they visited the candidate

caregivers studying Japanese language at

the Hiroshima International Center.

On 9-10 September 2009, Welfare Officer

Ma. Luz L. Talento and Mr. Dennis M. Cabatoof the Philippine Overseas Labor Office

(POLO-Tokyo) were on location to carry out

an observation mission this time in Nagoya

City, Aichi Prefecture (IC NAGOYA training

facility) and in Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture

(AOTS KANSAI KENSHU CENTER).

The observation mission carried out its

objectives well and was an opportunity to

note down some of the concerns and issues

brought up by the nurses and caregiversunder the JPEPA. In each of these locations,

an open forum was held to entertain

questions from the nurses and caregivers.

The questions ranged from provisions of

employment contract, leave of absence from

work, the board exam, and other concerns

related to their working conditions. Overall,

the nurses and caregivers were in high

spirits and renewed their commitment to

finish the program.