Filipino migrant workers denounced and rejected the “no pay, no work” scheme of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO), the office of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) in Taiwan. The scheme was stipulated in a memo released by the agency on August 27. Accordingly, the Marcos regime require workers who seek employment or wants to continue working in Taiwan to be members and regularly pay membership fees and contributions to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (membership fee of $25 valid for two years), Social Security System (14% of monthly salary credit equivalent or ₱560-₱3,500 per month) and Pag-ibig (minimum of ₱200/month).

MECO used the Memorandum of Understanding between DMW and Pagibig to force migrants to become members and pay high monthly contributions to the agency.

“These exorbitant fees that OFWs pay often do not translate to guarantees for the welfare services they need,” Migrante International stated on September 2. In fact, migrants are drowning under piles of fees while he governent continues to deny them protection.

“This is extortion,” Liza Maza, former Gabriela Women’s Party representative and Makabayan senatorial candidate, said. “The DMW is extremely shameless to impose this requirement from OFWs. This agency and Marcos Jr are already making billions from OFWs, yet they still increase fees. They are being used as milking cows.”

Migrante International called on OFWs to condemn this scheme in Taiwan, and push for the immediate abolition of the required fees. If not prevented, Marcos will surely implement this scheme in other countries hosting many OFWs.