THE Filipino community in the Kingdom reacted angrily to the in-fighting between two rival job placement organizations in Manila, both of which are vying to corner the lucrative welfare insurance coverage for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). The Federated Associations of Manpower Exporters, Inc. (FAME), which claims to be an umbrella organization of 11 associations of licensed overseas employment service providers, accused its competitor, the Philippine Association of Service Exporters, Inc. (PASEI), of trying to derail the federation's proposed Emergency Repatriation and Legal Liability Insurance Program (ERLIP). Meanwhile, PASEI branded FAME's insurance plan for OFWs as a “vague” program which it (FAME) refused to implement unless the Philippine government makes it mandatory. PASEI claims that its insurance program, the Workers Enhancement Insurance Program (WEIP), is a comprehensive welfare insurance that is at a no cost to the worker and to the government. In addition, PASEI said its insurance program has been implemented for over four years now on a voluntary basis. “It is sad to know that our overseas employment associations are quarrelling over our welfare insurance. They should work together and try to put forward the best welfare insurance systems instead of casting demerits on each other's proposals,” said Peter Marfa, president of the Overseas Filipino Workers Congress in Eastern Province (OFWC-EP). Architect Rene Caldeo slammed the in-fighting as a manifestation of the greediness of recruiting agencies. “I would not want to say that OFWs are the milking cows of recruiters and the public sector, but it appears that this is the reality. These placement organizations cannot hide their greed. At the end of the day, OFWs will be shouldering the insurance cost,” he said. Corly Obtinalla, executive member of the Kasapi Congress in Jeddah, said the burden of paying the proposed insurance premium by the two warring groups still depends on the overseas workers. “If they (recruiting agencies) are saying that the employers or the recruiting agencies will pay the premium, I don't think this is the case. For sure the cost will be passed again to the workers. We at Kasapi Congress consider the proposed insurance schemes of the recruiting associations as redundant and duplication of existing insurance schemes that are hardly benefiting OFWs,” she said. The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) currently implements a life insurance coverage called the Voluntary Membership Program (VMP) for OFWs. Under the VMP, Filipino workers pay a premium of $25 for a maximum coverage of two years. In addition to the life insurance, several packaged incentives are also extended to the insured workers. “The VMP is a life insurance of OWWA with attached benefits, such as the so-called Educational Development Scholarship Program (for 4-5 year baccalaureate degree), short courses for spouse or children of the insured OFWs, and a livelihood program,” said Rolando Coquia, welfare officer of the Philippine Embassy for Eastern Region. He said the VMP insurance program includes death benefit of 220,000 pesos plus burial costs for victims of road accident, 100,000 pesos plus burial cost for death due to sickness, 50,000 pesos for total disability, and between 2,000 to 5,000 pesos for partial disability. FAME president Eduardo Mahiya described PASEI's welfare insurance as, “not supported by the entire overseas employment sector, covertly being pushed as adopted by the government when, in fact, it is not, and as optional, very limited, and costly to the OFWs.” Victor Fernandez, president of PASEI, said the WEIP program is a no cost plan for overseas workers and covers many areas that FAME's program does not cover. “I do not want to be dragged in the false accusations of Mahiya,” he added. Under PASEI's proposed insurance plan, for a mandatory coverage of only US$3 per month or the cost of a good fast food value meal a month, the Filipino migrant worker will be entitled to: • Accidental death benefit of up to $15,000 or about 725,000 pesos. • Survivor's benefit (in case of natural death) of up to $10,000 or almost 483,000 pesos. • Permanent total disablement of up to $7,500 or more than 365,000 pesos. • Repatriation of bodily remains (including burial) of up to $15,000 or about 725,000 pesos. • Repatriation due to emergency evacuation and legitimate cause of up to $1,000 or more than 48,000 pesos. • Subsistence allowance of $100 per month or more than 28,800 pesos for six months. • Legitimate monetary claims for unpaid and just wages of up to $4,500 or more than 217,000 pesos. Fernandez said that FAME's program, if implemented, will only cover the repatriation and insurance of the worker onsite, which not many insurance companies would be willing to provide. “We, overseas Filipino workers, are thankful for the concern of these employment organizations in seeking to provide us with protection while deployed overseas. However, criticizing and fighting one another are not healthy signs of their ability to deliver the best insurance service,” OFWC
