New EU policy vs illegal migrants may force Pinoys to return home
Just like any other country in Europe, Belgium will soon be implementing strict laws against illegal migrants. With the new EU directive, undocumented migrants are expected to return to their country of origin .
There are around 6,000 registered Pinoys in Belgium, but the figure may be higher for undocumented migrants.
As a result, Ambassador Cristina Ortega announced last week that Pinoys in Belgium and Luxembourg, especially those who do not possess the necessary work permit or proper visa, will face deportation if caught by authorities.
“Mga mahal kong kababayan, nais kong ipaalam ang bagong EU return directive. Ito po in-approve na ng lahat ng 27 EU countries, kaya medyo kailangan na natin na maghanda sa mga son papier ika nga, yung mga walang papel sa Belgium at Luxembourg, kung saka-sakali. Ang lahat itong 27 countries na ito ay nagdecide na lahat ng mga illegal migrants kailangang bumalik na sa kanilang original countries. Ayaw na nilang maglagi dito ang mga illegal migrants”, she said.
Ortega said an illegal migrant who voluntary returns to his home country will not have any record. He or she can return to any of the 27 EU countries should an employer help acquire the necessary work permit.
However, she stressed that if a third-country national (e.g. Filipino) decides to illegally stay in Europe and is caught, he will be given a removal order and will automatically be deported. An entry ban shall also be applied, which will prohibit him from returning to any EU country.
Riccardo Mosca, press officer of European Commission, on the other hand, made some clarifications on the EU return directive. In an email sent to ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau, he pointed out the following:
· Last June 18, the European Parliament approved the directive on common standards and procedures for returning illegally staying third-country nationals in the Member States.
· The Commission had called for common European standards to ensure that Member States do not act in uncoordinated manner or sometimes arrange returns under unacceptable conditions.
· Until now, Member States have handled return decisions and procedures in very different ways. This fragmentation may violate the human dignity of the persons concerned.
· A legal framework is therefore essential. The directive offers certain common guarantees in the implementation of expulsion measures while allowing Member States to retain and establish more protective arrangements.
· The directive will also provide a legal basis which will allow effective judicial control. The European Parliament’s vote thus marks the first step in a process that will provide the European Union with effective means of concerted, joint and humane management of illegal immigration.
· VP Jacques Barrot intends to ensure personally that this directive is implemented in full compliance with the principles set out in the European Rights Convention and in the 1989 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child
In Need of Highly Skilled Workers
The European Commission has adopted a directive in welcoming the so called “highly skilled workers”. This directive will, however, enter into force in the EU territory when its legislative process is finalized.
This policy highlights the principle of circular migration, which seeks to attract professionals in the EU while avoiding brain drain with developing countries.
Eurostat projections indicate that in the EU, the total population is expected to decline by 2025, and the working age population by 2011.
Europe’s population is “ageing and many jobs vacancies remain unfilled,” said an EU press release.
Analysis shows that the EU will need a highly-qualified workforce to sustain its economy.
The Blue Card is Europe’s answer to the US green card, which is expected to attract highly-skilled workers from third world or developing countries.
Pinoys’ Reactions on EU Directive
Some undocumented Pinoys welcome the idea of returning to the Philippines to have their papers processed by their legal employers.
Pina Payocong, who admitted being an illegal migrant for years, said she’s in favor of the EU return directive and the issuance of the Blue Card.
“Pabor ako dun sa sinasabi nila na kung may magde-declare sa ‘yo, pwede kang umuwi ng Pilipinas. Mahirap kasi na wala kang papel. Di ka pwedeng makalabas-labas”, she said.
But there are some who consider the directive a trap for undocumented migrants.
Merced Olalo, an OFW who is legally working for a diplomat, said her friends are not 100% convinced of the directive.
“Karamihan ng mga nakakausap ko,ayaw nila. Hindi sila pabor dun sa sinasabing umuwi muna kasi nga hindi 100% na makakabalik sila. Di pa naman kasi approved ang Blue Card na sinasabi nila”, she lamented.
The EU return directive may pose a problem to some undocumented Pinoys, but there are those who still consider this an opportunity for more professionals and highly-skilled Pinoy workers in the Philippines waiting for a chance to work legally in any country in Europe.
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