Collective action compelled the Philippine embassy in the Netherlands to provide financial assistance to 11 migrant workers who were abused by Saints and Stars Gym. They were given a second tranche of aid by embassy officials this September.

Migrante Netherlands acknowledges the assistance from the Filipino officials but demands that support should be sustainable. “We assert that this aid is not charity. The Philippine government is obligated to protect and support overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), who contribute 9% to the country’s GDP.”

“We emphasize that what the workers urgently require is sustained assistance for the entire duration of their case. Since they are unable to work legally in the Netherlands while proceedings are ongoing, they need regular financial and welfare support not only to cover their daily needs here, but also to continue providing for their families back home who depend on them,” explained Mark Pascual, campaign officer of Migrante Netherlands.

The group also condemned the lies and distortion of information made by the Philippine embassy in their interview with GMA News, claiming they had already contacted the victims as early as July. In reality they only spoke with the victims on August 8 during a dialogue Migrante Netherlands organized. They also said they had provided temporary shelter for the victims, which was also false.

“We clarify that our temporary shelter now was arranged by our lawyer, not by the Philippine Embassy. We remind the Philippine Embassy to be accurate in their statements regarding the support they claim to provide us. We do not benefit from false statements and pretenses,” Filipino migrant workers representative Lynette said.

“We call on all Filipino migrants who experience abuse and exploitation to speak up, unite, and fight the abusive corporations that profit from their cheap labor and the Philippine government’s negligence,” Migrante Netherlands urged.