Labor Movement Specifics in JPEPA

Reading the 900 plus pages of annexes for specifics of JPEPA is tedious and honestly I'm only reading annexes that directly affects me and my work. I think it will be efficient this way, though I really want to know each and every detail of this agreement but time is my constraint. I guess, the “Philippine Senate” should hire me first just to sprinkle a little bit of spice of “workload idea” on it. (half-meant joke).

This statement is a reaction to the Annex 8 referred to in Chapter 9 of JPEPA, titled as the Specific Commitments for the Movement of Natural Persons. This is where specifics of facilitation of Filipino caregivers came in.

If we are to look back and view JPEPA again when it is first proposed, this part was the only bargain the Philippines would gain given that other specifics involving trade in goods were originally fair. The Philippines specifically asked Japan to facilitate entry of health care workers in exchange for other specifics imposed by both countries. Japan upheld the request but limiting the number of possible entrants to a certain quota. Back then, all is good until JPEPA is bombarded by a series of negative campaigns rallying against the ratification of it. I never thought this Annex would face a problem until issues involving facilitation of Filipino nurses and caregivers was actually now a negative thing. (!!!) A series of negative reactions which includes Senator’s statements about the strict restrictions and requirements imposed by the Japan government was released creating more negative reactions from the public, a tsunami formed from a mere splash of wave. This provoked me to again make a statement.

Annex 8 discussed that the facilitation of nurses and caregivers is only a part of the whole movement of natural person chapter. Lawyers, engineers, teachers and etc. can also enter Japan in the future, opening a chance of significant growth to future remittances that if computed well, may even surpass gains from trade in goods.

The Philippine economy is somewhat dependent on its overseas labor force, a labor force that remits more than $1Billion a month. But in 2005, the US government successfully influenced the stoppage of the so called “sex trafficking” of our young Filipinas who enters Japan on a talent visa but ends up working in night clubs or “omise”. Then on, the remittances of Filipinos from Japan decreased significantly even toppling Japan from the top list of Asian countries on remittance statistics. Even today, when remittances from other nations increased by large percentages, remittances from the Japan remains the same low. Now, with the new chance in JPEPA, why hesitate in ratifying it. Perhaps, the Philippines’ real product is not agricultural or basic tradable goods, but its stock of the best and the brightest human resources available for hire.

Another Biased View on JPEPA?

Upon reading updates and press releases on JPEPA from various websites including the Philippine Senate’s own and some read-worthy blog sites, I can only utter one word, “DISAPPOINTMENT.” From this opinionated statement, I may brand some Filipinos as “cowards”. It may also be biased because of my position, as I am currently the operations manager of a joint Philippine-Japan caregiver related NPO who successfully sponsored 15 Filipino caregivers/students who are presently in Japan studying higher level Japanese language while training in hospitals, care homes and facilities. They are in the first phase of their program aiming for a long term career in Japan with challenges like getting the Japanese Health Care Worker License through a licensure exam equal to the US’ NCLEX but in Nihongo, hence, the study of higher level Japanese language. This statement is really biased, but ironically informative.

Today, even with the momentary slip of the Philippine economy from a series of super typhoons and flooding, emergency holidays and Abu Sayyaf wars, we cannot deny that our country’s economy is growing. (“Let the numbers speak”) Yet, amidst the growth and gains, we cower down to our tradition of fearing change. From fresh senators camouflaging personal political differences with suave public displays of wit to rating inspired press and media personalities; from oblivious taxi drivers who listen to too much AM radio to regular university students aiming just to look cool; from ordinary citizens who just go with the flow and grasp for the current fashion trend to mothers who would care less to listen to current news because of the excitement of the next television series. The Filipino people today will shame our Philippine flag that could have symbolized freedom, courage and determination. But we cower down and fear change, cling to the ordinary and easy life, and we should junk JPEPA. Or should we?

JPEPA was molded by our President (please take note that I despise all politicians especially our President) and the preceding Japan Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi as the highlight of their careers. (well, perhaps only to Mrs. Arroyo) After this term, President Arroyo hopes that she will be remembered as the economist while Koizumi will always linger as the savior of Japan’s economy, and maybe branded as one of the best, if not the best of all of Japan’s Prime Ministers. These two personas have adept knowledge of economy and patriotism, and they both knew that JPEPA will be beneficial for both, if not for their own countries. If I can remember, everything started a long time ago, and then it was supposed to be ratified at the Senate before the 13th congress will end but then there was the issue “Toxic Wastes”. Fearing that it might affect election polls, they waived it for the 14th congress. Today, here we are again, waiting for the next big clue that the Philippines will surely win on this JPEPA before they will ratify it. Basically, JPEPA is in the hands of the 23 Senators (I’m still hoping that the number is 24, because ratification needs 16 votes and now there are less voters) but they cannot see clearly the “Win-Win” situation for the Philippines because most of them are clouded by personal agendas and political differences.

Senator Mar Roxas, and economists, also the grandson of one of Philippine’s better Presidents, Manuel Roxas; stated in one of his interviews on a press release this weekend at the Senate’s website that JPEPA’s ratification will probably hang in the balance of satisfying these four issues;

01. trade in goods
02. toxic wastes
03. nurses and caregivers
04. other trade, legal and treaty issues

I think he might be wrong, number 01 and number 04 are irrelevant because issues underlying these revolve around the whole idea of having an EPA or an FTA, or in a specific sense, our JPEPA. I will try to explain my point by sampling words this treaty has in it and perhaps it will illuminate issues that some geniuses missed. This treaty goes around the whole “economic agreement” or “trade agreement” that so happens to have additional words such as “partnership” and adding “free” to “trade” making it “free-trade”. “Competition” is another word that needs to be pointed out. In a free trade world, competition is supposedly accepted and adhered to, instead of being treated as a foe. Running a country’s economy is like running a business, competition is inevitable, how can we even compete with other countries in our region if we don’t want to do business in the first place (metaphor). Ratifying JPEPA is the only way to start that said business. Indonesia has done it, (ratification of their EPA with Japan) Thailand too. The Philippines have better resources than these two countries but we are behind them now because we are cowards? I don’t think so.

On the issue of “Toxic Wastes”, I am a tree hugger myself but I think Japan will not go overboard on actually dumping toxic wastes to the Philippines. In fact, long before JPEPA, the specific facilitation and taxation of the trade of recyclable waste (which was later termed “toxic”) was already there. With JPEPA, the taxes were just taken out. Plus, Japan is merely thinking of waste disposal facility projects similar to the solution of taking care of Tokyo’s wastes. Tokyo is the biggest city of Japan and home to almost 15 million people. Imagine the garbage and waste of this city everyday and ask me how it is taken care of. (perhaps it is better if you ask yourself and research it) Tokyo has a lot of big garbage disposal facilities that burns biodegradable and integrates recycling. From the idea of recycling, that is where trade comes in. Some of these recyclable wastes can still be sold and that is where misinterpretation of the “Toxic Waste” idea. (sigh) We complain about toxic wastes yet we do nothing to Manila’s own garbage problem. What about the lands in Payatas? It is a completely different story.

Finally, on the issue of Caregivers (the highlight of this article), the Japan government may be too strict on raising the bar of requirements too high, resulting to a connotation that they are not interested in Filipino caregivers at all, but it is just another misinterpretation. Japan has always been strict and disciplined when it comes to work issues. They will accept Filipinos or other foreign health care workers if they can trust to put the lives of their grandparents to the hands of these individuals. Care giving may look easy but it is still a job that involves human lives, and a more fragile human life that is. I think strictness is an understatement. To add, we have to take away the impression of Japanese citizens on Filipinos merely as entertainers who lack education. Plus we have to insist that this new gateway will not be abused as another channel for facilitating these entertainers anew. Now, aren’t we the ones who need to adhere to the strict requirements or am I just disillusioned? I hope not.

It is true that compared to other destinations, Japan will not likely to be chosen by top notched nurses who would rather choose places with better deals like family related visa issues, longer careers and better pays, but I think it would be better for the Philippines to welcome “balikbayans” instead of losing better professionals by becoming US and Canadian citizens. (huh?) Also, the pool of caregiver graduates of the Philippines is growing at a fast rate that later on quantity ruins quality. It is just perfect to raise the bar of requirements now so that we can maintain the top quality of Filipino health care professionals whose golden heritage is known all over the world.

The Senate should ratify JPEPA now; we have no time to waste and definitely no time to impose personal and political differences in front of more important issues. I am calling on all Senators to please look at it on a better perspective.