Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2001, published 90th ILC session (2002)

Protection of Wages Convention, 1949 (No. 95) - Philippines (Ratification: 1953)

The Committee takes note of the information supplied by the Government in reply to its previous comments concerning war reparation claims filed by Filipino workers employed in Iraq. The Committee notes that initially only Filipino workers who came from Iraq and Kuwait were qualified to submit their application forms for war reparation claims, whereas later the United Nations Compensation Commission (UNCC) decided to receive applications for Gulf War damages of Filipino workers coming from the eastern province of Saudi Arabia. The Committee also notes the statistical data concerning Gulf War reparation claims filed with the UNCC, including those related to unpaid wages of overseas contract workers. The Committee notes in this connection the Government’s indication that in February 1996 the UNCC, through the Philippine Claims and Compensation Committee (PCCC) secretariat, started releasing the funds for the payment of claims for serious physical injury or death relative to the Gulf War.

With respect to the suspended negotiations concerning possible agreements with the governments of a number of countries to regulate the transfer of wages of Filipino workers employed in these countries, the Committee again stresses the importance of guaranteeing in those agreements the principle of free disposal of wages in conformity with Article 6 of the Convention. The Committee requests the Government to continue to supply detailed information on any progress achieved regarding the above questions.