Undocumented OFWs in China increase

The number of undocumented overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in China is surging, according to a Filipino migrants’ rights group.

Migrante-Middle East regional director John Leonard Monterona confirmed that his group is continuously receiving, since 4th quarter of last year, request for assistance from undocumented OFWs in China amid the sporadic crackdown on overstayers and undocumented by the Chinese authorities.

Monterona said they have already monitored about 100 undocumented OFWs, and still counting. In Beijing, undocumented OFWs present themselves to Migrante.

“We found out that some of the undocumented have overstayed after their work visa expired, some ran away from their employer, and there are those who came to China for work without passing the formal channel or going through a recruitment agency duly accredited by the POEA,” Monterona disclosed.

Meanwhile, Chinese authorities nabbed two overstaying OFWs. On Thursday, Monterona said he was alerted by Migrante-ME affiliate group, the Dammam-based OFW Join Force through its administrator Mr. Sonny Rivera, of a report from its Beijing-based group administrator about two OFWs in Beijing nabbed Wednesday.

Monterona identified the two as Prima Ebite Delgado and Marivic Labsang, both are now under investigation and detained in Beijing.

The PH embassy in Beijing, through the assistance of DFA Undersecretary for Administration Rafael Seguis, replied on Monterona’s case inquiry regarding the two OFWs confirming ‘the Beijing Public Security Bureau (PSB) has confirmed, by a telephone call, that OFWs Delgado and Labsang were arrested Wednesday night by the Chinese authorities for “overstaying”.’

“I have requested the PH embassy in Beijing to form a quick-response team to visit the detained OFWs which the embassy assured that they will assist subject OFWs, get their release and repatriation to the Philippines,” Monterona added.

As per POEA overseas employment statistics released on 2010, there were 8,954 deployed (rehires and new hires) OFWs in China, which Monterona said is a conservative figure counting only those who passed through the formal channel.

“Human trafficking and illegal recruitment of Filipinos to China is notably rampant and has not been checked by the PH government authorities,” Monterona said.