Polo Tokyo Annual Report 2009 Online

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Annual Report 2009Philippine Overseas Labor O ffice in Tokyo, Japan

Introduction In the midst of the economic turmoil and declines inthe global markets caused by the worldwide nancialcrisis, Japan has managed to limit its exposure in 2009.But according to the Organization for EconomicCo -operation and Development ( OECD ) , Japansexport -dependent economy has fallen into its deepestrecession of the post - war era. This has led toimmediate actions to stabilize market conditions, suchas implementing a huge scal stimulus package and

cutting down interest rates, which would achieve morepositive growth during the second semester of 2009. But Japans exports and industrial outputfell by about a third in volume terms between September 2008 and February 2009, and has led toa decline in wages and to an increase in unemployment to unparalleled levels by mid -2009. By March 2009, business condence of large manufacturing rms had gone down to its lowest levelsince 1975 that led to a major setback in their investment plans. Meanwhile, ination has turnednegative and by mid -2009, prices were down by about 2 % year-on- year.

Glimpses of economic recovery were seen in the second quarter of 2009 with modest gains inexports and industrial production. Output was projected to continue increasing in the second


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half of 2009, due mainly to the governments scal stimulus package. But Japans road to recovery was restrained in large part by low export growth and reduced world market share, brought aboutby meager improvements in the global economy and the continued appreciation of the yen overthe past year. The yen's appreciation, which on November 27th reached its strongest level againstthe dollar in 14 years, also contributed to declining price levels in Japan. This has put on the

government to turn its attention to deation and falling consumer prices.

All told, these constitute the economic challenges confronting the new government of PrimeMinister Yukio Hatoyama and his economic team. Expectations have been growing in Japan thatthis government will promptly put into operation a new growth strategy through the year 2020to create demand, turn around falling prices and deal with the negative e ff ects of a stronger yen.But according to business lobbyists, Japan is unlikely to emerge from deation in the immediatefuture and expressed caution about the prospects for an economic recovery in 2010.

Against this backdrop, POLO - Tokyo pursued its objectives of employment facilitation, OFW

protection, and policy advocacy for the period ended December 2009. The following are thehighlights of POLO - Tokyos accomplishments during the period covered.

Employment Facilitatio n

Post continued to support the opening of high -end and/or highly skilled jobs market in Japan forFilipinos. Principals and prospective employers interested in hiring Filipino engineers and ITprofessionals were immediately given orientation on procedures for hiring OFWs, and theirrequests for verication and/or review promptly attended to.

Moreover, Post sustained its campaign to reform the deployment to, and employment of Filipinoentertainers in Japan. Policy recommendations were forwarded to the DOLE Head O ffice tostreamline, among other things, documentary requirements for the employment of Filipinoprofessionals in Japan.

On -site Verication of Employment Contracts and Other DocumentsRecognizing that contract verication and/or review has served OFWs in good stead, Postcarried on with its function of determining the acceptability of model employment contracts of employers. The verication/review of these documents basically ensures that the contract

( between the Filipino worker and his employer in Japan ) is in compliance with POEA rules andregulations and its terms and conditions are at par with what is prescribed under Japanese lawsand standards.

The number of individual employment contracts recommended to POEA expanded by about 77percent ( +742 ) in 2009. This gure can be attributed to the resumption of the authentication and/ or verication of documents for Filipino performing artists in Japan since September 2008. As a consequence, the Post referred to POEA a total of 1,704 contracts in 2009 from 962 contractsrecorded last year ( Table 1 ) .


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This involved employment contracts of overseas performing artists ( 1,601 ) , household service workers ( 66 ) and engineers and other skilled workers/professionals ( 37 ) . Looking more closely atthese gures, the number of skilled workers involved increased by 28 percent from 29 workers to37 workers despite the lingering e ff ects of the global nancial crisis wherein recruitment of skilled personnel by some Japanese companies was severely a ff ected.

Surprisingly, the number of overseas performing artists involved was not as greatly a ff ected butinstead grew by 87 percent from 858 in 2008 to 1,601 requests for overseas performing artists in2009.

Overall, the total number of workers involved as per job orders registered reached 3,788 in 2009.

On -site Issuance of Overseas Employment Certicates (OEC )From January to December 2009, the number of OECs issued on -site totaled 1,864 ( increase of 1.64 percent ) OECs issued beneting the same number of OFWs compared to 1,834 OECs issuedon the same period of 2008 ( Table 2 ) . This gure translated to about 471,200 collected for thepayment of the OEC fee which is 66 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 200per OEC in February 2009 and 250 starting May 2009.


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On -site Issuance of Escrow Clearance Certicates (ECC )Escrow clearance certicates ( ECCs ) were also issued at Post to assist principals who were

withdrawing escrow bond deposits because of cessation of their business operations. From January to December 2009, Post issued 85 ECCs which is 42 percent lower compared to the 146escrow clearances issued in 2008.

Social Protection and Welfare Services for OFWs

OWWA Membership Promotion Program OWWA Membership Promotion Program in 2009 resulted in the enrolment or renewal of membership of 921 OFWs in OWWA an increase of about 41 percent ( +270 ) from the year agoOWWA membership. Total revenue collection reached USD 22,263.55 which increased by 35percent compared to the amount collected in 2008 ( Table 3 ) .

Workers Assistance Program In 2009, Post handled a total of 103 welfare cases, which is 6.4 percent lower than the 110 casesrecorded by Post in 2008 ( Table 4 ) . Of this number, Post managed 84 new cases. Most of thecases handled by Post involved 125 workers who mostly complained about unpaid wages andtermination of contracts, report of status of detention and whereabouts, maltreatment, andcontract violations. A total of 33 cases remained pending for resolution by the end of 2009.


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Policy Advocacy

In 2009, Post participated in the seminar organized by ILO - Japan and the ILO Association of Japan entitled, Employment and Labour Trends in China under the Global Economic Crisis,held last 29 January 2009. The theme of the seminar centered on the e ff ects of the current crisison Chinas labour and employment aspects.

Post updated its Report to Congress on the

working conditions of and problems encounteredby OFWs in Japan, recommending policy interventions designed to minimize if noteliminate unfavorable working conditions forskilled Filipino professionals about to work in Japan.

A Memorandum of Cooperation on theDevelopment of Asian Seafarers was agreed uponbetween DOLE and the Japan Ministry of Land,

Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism ( MLIT ) last12 March 2009.

On that same day, Post actively participated in thepolicy forum, Japan -Philippines Seafarer Policy Forum held at the Mita Kaigisho Special Meeting Room. The purpose of the forum was to deepenthe understanding of participants about theInternational Cooperative Training Project for

Asian Seafarers particularly between the

Philippines and Japan.


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On 22 February 2009, the PML or the PhilippineMens League ( Tokyo, Japan ) held its Induction of Officers and New Members at the Meguro -SatsukiKaikan. Labor Attach Danilo P. Cruz led theinduction of the new members of the PML.

Post also participated in the Annual GeneralMeeting of the Philippine Chamber of Commerceand Industry in Japan ( PCCIJ ) which was held atthe Philippine Embassy last 25 February 2009.

Post teamed up with the Love and AcceptanceHands -on Integrity ( LAHI ) Association, a Filipinocommunity organization based in Ibaraki and

Tochige prefectures, to conduct a One -day Computer Training Program at the Ibaraki KenKensei Learning Center on 28 February 2009.

On 29 March 2009, IPS, Inc. launched a job fair in Tokyo where members of the Filipino community were able to gain access to productive andremunerative employment in the metropolis. Theevent was billed, Pinoy Life Fair 2009 and Postactively participated in said event. Labor AttachDanilo P. Cruz gave a special message during theopening ceremonies.

On 31 March 2009, LAHI Association PresidentMaria Wena Inoue informed the Post that sixteen( 16 ) Japanese elementary schools made a pledge of support to the "Classroom, Galing sa Mamamayang Pilipino Abroad" ( CGMA ) projectof the Department of Labor and Employment( DOLE ) . Together with the donation from theLAHI Association, a total of 400,000 wasacknowledged by Labor Attach Danilo P. Cruz forthe donate -a -classroom project of DOLE. Thedonors identied the Gandara Central Elementary School in Samar, Leyte as their beneciaries.


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On 19 July 2009, Post participated in the Filipino - Japanese Friendship Ceremony and Inductionof the 2009 United Filipinos for Peace and Advancement ( UFPA ) Officers Ceremony inKawasaki City. Labor Attach Danilo P. Cruz was the guest of honor and induction o fficer during the event.

The labor o ffice spearheaded an outdoor get -together held last 09 August 2009 for the Filipinocommunity representatives in Tokyo. The gathering was in appreciation for the participation andeff orts 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 inductionofficer at the Japan Association of Novo Ecijanos ( JANE ) Induction of O fficers 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 during theceremony. In the afternoon, Filipino participants to the JLEPD program visited the Philippine

Embassy. Consul General Sulpicio M. Conado and Labor Attach Danilo P. Cruz welcomed theparticipants and shared afternoon snacks with them.

On 08 November 2009, the Philippine Assistance Group ( PAG ) organized a childrens day for a Japanese orphanage institution. It was an opportunity for some fty ( 50 ) children of di ff erentages to experience Filipino care and hospitality that brought a lot of memorable moments tothose children. Post was a major supporter to this special event.


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On 14 November 2009, Post conducted a consular mission in province of Ibaraki, whichis about 2 hours drive from Tokyo. Passport services and welfare -related consultationand assistance were a ff orded to more than 500 Filipinos living in the area.

On 24 November 2009, Labor Attach Danilo P. Cruz was interviewed by representatives from the Japanese Language Education Journal and Japanese LanguageCenter on the topic, Filipino health professional working in Japan. Excerpts from theinterview will be published as part of the maiden issue in January 2010.

On 01 December 2009, Post participated in a Legal Symposium organized by theKapisanan ng Migranteng Pilipino - Japan. A panel from the UP Law School headed by Dean Merlin Magallona discussed about the legal problems besetting both the legal workers and illegal and overstaying Filipinos in Japan. Counterpart Japanese lawyers were also invited in the forum as resource persons for the Japanese legal system. TheSynposium was held at the Meguro Catholic Church.

On 06 December 2009, Solid Filipino Migrant Association ( SOFILMA ) celebrated its6th year anniversary and labor o ffice

representatives led by WELOF Luz Talento were present to give itssupport to SOFILMA o fficials andmembers.


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Arrival of JPEPA Filipino Nurses and Caregivers

Under the Japan -Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement ( JPEPA ) , the rst batch of nursesand nursing caregivers from the Philippines arrived in Japan in two ( 2 ) separate ights last 10 May

2009. A total of 273 health professionals were on -board Japan Airlines ( JAL ) ight 746 whicharrived at Narita Airport around 1430 JST and JAL 742 which arrived at around 1930 JST.

The contingent were met at the airport by Consul General Sulpicio M. Conado, Labor AttacheDanilo P. Cruz, and Messrs. Emmanuel Austria and Dennis Cabato from the Consular and LaborSections respectively. Japanese media including representatives from three ( 3 ) major televisionnetworks ( NHK, TBS and TV Tokyo ) were present to cover the arrival of the Filipino health

workers.

After their arrival, the rst batch of Filipino nurses and caregivers will receive six ( 6 ) months

Japanese language training and basic information related to their jobs from selected languageinstitutions in Tokyo ( AOTS and Arai Gakuen ) , Osaka ( AOTS ) , Nagoya ( NIC ) , and Hiroshima ( HIC ) . They will start working full -time in the latter part of this year. Welcome activities tokick-off the training course have been scheduled during the week. In Tokyo, Arai Gakuen hasplanned an opening ceremony of the Japanese language course for the 78 Filipino nursing caregivers on 11 May 2009.


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Labor Attach Danilo P. Cruz was the guest of honor at the 2nd Philippine Chamber of

Commerce in Japan ( PCCIJ ) seminar on FilipinoNurses/Care -Givers under JPEPA held at theCITI CLUB OF TOKYO last 20 May 2009.LABATT Cruz made a brief presentation on theseminar topic. After his presentation, participantsto the seminar were given opportunity to askquestions and be claried about the JPEPAprogram implementation.

On June 9 2009, JICWELS organized a closing ceremony for ten ( 10 ) candidate caregivers( exempted from the Japanese language training )

who attended the Introductory Training of Kaigofor Philippines Candidates for Kaigofukushishi.

The welcome address was given by Labor AttachDanilo P. Cruz.

JPEPA Nurses and Caregivers Observation Mission On 14-15 August 2009, Labor Attach Danilo P.Cruz and Welfare O fficer Ma. Luz L. Talento

visited two ( 2 ) facilities in Okayama Prefecture,namely Momotaro Rehabilitation Center and theKibikogen Synthetic Welfare Center. On thesecond day, they visited the candidate caregiversstudying Japanese language at the Hiroshima International Center.

On 9 -10 September 2009, Welfare O fficer Ma. LuzL. Talento and Mr. Dennis M. Cabato of thePhilippine Overseas Labor O ffice ( POLO - Tokyo )

were on location to carry out an observationmission this time in Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture( IC NAGOYA training facility ) and in Osaka City,Osaka Prefecture ( AOTS KANSAI KENSHUCENTER ) .


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The observation mission carried out its objectives well and was an opportunity to note downsome of the concerns and issues brought up by the nurses and caregivers under the JPEPA. Ineach of these locations, an open forum was held to entertain questions from the nurses andcaregivers. 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, thenurses and caregivers were in high spirits and renewed their commitment to nish the program.

PGMA 2009 O f cial Working Visit to Japan H.E. President Gloria Macapagal - Arroyo visited Japan from 17 to 21 June 2009. Her working visitincluded an audience with the Emperor and Empress of Japan and the pursuit of very goodbilateral relations and cooperation in eld of labor, trade, security and economy.

The Japan -Philippines Maritime Cooperation Dinner Reception in honor of H.E. PresidentGloria Macapagal - Arroyo wassuccessfully held on 19 June

2009 at the Hotel MarinersCourt in Tokyo, Japan, and

was attended by delegations from thePhilippines andrepresentatives from thehost organizations led by the Japanese Shipowners

Association ( JSA ) , All Japan Seamens Union( JSU ) , and InternationalMariners Management Association of Japan ( IMMAJ ) .

The Dinner Reception waspreceded by a Memorandum of Understanding ( MoU ) signing ceremony between Japanese andPhilippine representatives whichincluded Mr. Yoji Fujisawa of the JSU, Mr. Koji Miyahara of IMMAJ,Mr. Takao Manji of the Philippine - Japan Manning Consultative Council,Inc. ( PJMCC ) ; and Mr. EduardoSantos of the Associated MarineOfficers and Seamens Union of the Philippines ( AMOSUP ) , Mr. Democrito Mendoza of thePhilippine Seafarers Union ( PSU ) and Mr. Eduardo Manese of PJMCC. The signing of the MoU

was witnessed by Mr. Masafumi Shukuri, Vice -Minister for land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, and Mr. Marianito D. Roque, Minister for Labor and Employment.


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As part of the MoU, the JSU, JSA, IMMAJ and their Philippine counterparts AMOSUP, PSUand PJMCC will continue to work together in creating and pursuing projects aimed atdeveloping the competencies and skills of Filipino seafarers and ensuring that their skills andcompetencies are aligned with the changing ship technologies and global shipping industry needs.

On 19 June 2009, H.E. President Gloria Macapagal - Arroyo was warmly welcomed by the Filipinocommunity at the 4th oor of the Hotel Mariners Court in Tokyo where she made a speech thatdelighted the Filipino audience.

To mark her last o fficial functionduring her visit in Tokyo, H.E.President Gloria Macapagal -

Arroyo on 20 June 2009 visitedthe AOTS language training center where thirty -six ( 36 )

Filipino candidates forKangoshi ( nurses ) areundergoing free Nihongolanguage training. The Filipinonurses are part of the 283Filipino healthprofessionals training in Japan. The Presidentcommented that thesenurses and caregivers arethe rst visible impactof the implementation of the Japan PhilippinesEconomic Partnership

Agreement or JPEPA.

Launching of thePOLO -Tokyo WebsiteOn 23 November 2009, Postlaunched its website with active members of the Filipino community gracing the event. POLO -

Tokyo can now be accessed via its website: www.polotokyo.com and its new ( additional ) E-mailaddress: [email protected] .

Year -end Activity with FILCOM Leaders0n 20 December 2009, Post organized a Christmas party for the Filipino community leaders in Japan. The event was also an occasion to reminisce about the various activities during the yearand an opportunity to exchange notes about future events in the coming year. The event waslled with music and laughter and was a memorable happening for those that attended theoccasion.
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M O R E P H OTO S F R O M T H I S Y E A R

Its been a busy year for all of us!

P O LO - T O K Y O

LA BO R A T T A CHE

D A N I LO P. C RU Z

W ELFA R E O FF I CER

M A. LU Z L. T A LEN T O

D EN N I S M . CA BA T O

I R EEN C. CA M BA LI N G

BA L T A Z A R CO R T EZ

Y U R I KO S EKI

HI R O O U CHI D A

N U N I T O A R G A M A S O