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Tuesday, July 04, 2006
Malig: Unqualified Japan-bound entertainers?
By Jun A. Malig
Cognition
DESPITE more stringent rules on employment of Filipino women in Japan, many young girls, particularly in Pampanga, have been hoping to become entertainers in the land of the rising sun where wages are tenfold or much higher than what ordinary workers receive in our country. High hopes for a better life for themselves and their respective families usually clog the young women's clear minds and sound judgment.
The real danger of becoming an unwilling victim of human trafficking syndicates turns into a minor concern of a young woman who is desperate enough to hoist her family form the vicious cycle of poverty. Illusions and dreams frequently prevail over life's sad realities, especially in the youthful mind of someone very eager to escape from material deprivation. Many are prepared to face any form of consequences if only to free their families from the clutches of poverty.
Ruby (not her real name), a modest 19-year-old high school graduate in my hometown of Mabalacat, is waiting words from her "recruiters" who had chosen her to become a singer somewhere in Japan. About three weeks ago she, along with two friends -- an 18-year-old resident of Mabalacat and a 20-year-old resident of Angeles City -- went to a big house in a certain "Victoria" subdivision in nearby Magalang town to apply as Japan-bound entertainers. They were told that experience in the entertainment field was not necessary.
Ruby, despite her admission that she lacks singing ability, was chosen as a singer. Her two friends, who did not even become members of elementary or high school dance troupes, were selected as dancers. The three are attractive young women who could neither sing nor dance. It seems peculiar that, despite their obvious incompetence in the field of singing and dancing, are being hired as "singer" and "dancers."
They were promised lucrative jobs in Japan amidst the Japanese Government's new and much stricter immigration policy, which aims to limit entry to professional artists with at least a two-year degree course in any school for dance or music or any related course in performing arts. To prevent the entry of "hostesses," Japan no longer recognizes the Artists Accreditation Card (AAC), which used to be the single most important document that overseas performing artists must posses to be able to work in Japan before the new immigration policy took effect on Mar. 15, 2005.
Human trafficking or trafficking in human beings, as I cited in my last column, is the criminal smuggling of human beings, who are subjected to involuntary acts like prostitution, forced marriage, or involuntary servitude. It involves use of deception, physical force, fraud, or other forms or coercion or intimidation to obtain, recruit, harbor, and transport people. Ruby's younger sister fears that the former and her friends might fall victim to this form of modern day slavery. She tried to discourage them from pursuing their plan but it seems the prospect of earning yen seems far stronger than common sense.
Ruby said the Japanese couple recruiting young Filipino women for alleged entertainment jobs in Japan had told her through aide-interpreters that an applicant's visa could be issued within a month. "Sabi nila one month lang makakalipad na ang applicant papuntang Japan at wala daw kaming dapat bayaran. Pero pag-uwi daw namin sa Piipinas, sila ang susundo sa amin sa airport at doon daw nila kukunin sa suweldo namin ang nagastos nila sa amin," she added.
Meanwhile, some 10 Japan and Philippine-based non-government organizations have expressed alarm over the danger of human trafficking in Japan.
"Trafficking of women and children in Japan has almost always been associated with the entertainment/sex industries which are heavily controlled by syndicates like the Yakuza. The studies show a pattern of sexual and labor exploitation without recourse to legal remedies from the Japanese Government, which previously had no legal standards on trafficking cases. Various methods and degrees of coercion and control are employed to compel women even with legal paper to give in to the sexual advances of customers even in legally operating bars and entertainment establishments. In the worst of cases, women are virtually imprisoned, enslaved, and subjected to the most horrendous violations," they stated in the Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation (issue no. 2 2005), the newsletter of the Society of St. Columban.
The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines has supported the stricter policy on foreign entertainers, especially upon receiving information that many Filipino women become victims of human trafficking.
If the Japanese Government has done its part to protect our women, perhaps our government, through local officials, national agencies and law enforcement units, should find time to protect Ruby and many other young women from becoming possible victims of human trafficking.
(July 4, 2006 issue)
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