Reintegration of Female Migrant Workers Since 2006, the government has intensified its reintegration program. The establishment of the National Reintegration Center for Overseas Filipino Workers (NCRO) is a case in point.The government’s reintegration program is anchored on making women find alternative livelihood in the Philippines,. However, without a working database on returning migrants and their skills mix, it is difficult to design programs that can meaningfully provide an alternative to migration and sustained empowerment. While NRCO’s creation is a step in the right direction, local government units where migrants will stay for good must be fully incorporated in reintegration programs. Return and reintegration must also be tied with bilateral agreements as the responsibility of both the origin and destination countries. Furthermore, reintegration programs may be designed in such a way as to suit the profiles and capacities of target recipients. For instance, domestic workers who have very little income from abroad may have separate reintegration programs, taking into account their small income, their unique situation abroad, and their family’s status in the Philippines. We urge the CEDAW Committee to include the following in the list of issues and list of questions: 1. Progress of efforts to create full employment that is environmentally sustainable, real and decent jobs, 2. 3. 4. 5. with adequate social protectionbenefits and living wages that are not hazardous to health; and factors that hinder the realization of such with concrete indicators to measure progress Status of Senate Bill 29 on anti-age discrimination in the employment Act and the Security of Tenure Bill and factors that hinder their passage and how these may be overcome Status of efforts and preparations for the ASEAN economic integration in terms of workers’ qualifications for employment both locally and within the ASEAN as well as protection measures with clear indicators to cover low-skilled migrant workers including their free mobility within the ASEAN Inquire on gender-disaggregated data of returned migrants including an inventory of skills acquired while working abroad; include how many have stayed home in the country for good, how many have returned overseas to continue working as migrants Ask for time-bound, measurable reintegration programs and clear indicators of success of reintegration programs for female migrant workers 3. On bilateral labor agreements (para. 82 & 83) (Articles 2, 3, 15, GR 26, GR 33) 3.1 The Issue Bilateral Labor Agreements (BLAs) are forged with destination countries with the intent to provide improved protections and benefits for domestic workers. At the outset, the framework for negotiating BLAs must be rights based and gender sensitive with clear, detailed guidelines for implementation and mechanisms for monitoring and periodic review. 3.2 Government Action It has been noted that the Government of the Philippines forged a BLA with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) regarding the employment contract and benefits of Household Service Workers (HSWs) in May 2013.31 This agreement was of historical significance as it was the first agreement of this nature. The KSA is one of the top destination countries for Filipino domestic workers. 31 “Agreement on domestic labor recruitment between the ministry of labor of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the department of labor and employment of the republic of the Philippines”, MOU on HSWs, May 19, 2013, http://www.poea.gov.ph/docs/PH%20KSA%20MOA.pdf 6 of 12