Migrante Netherlands takes note of the recent statement from the Philippine Embassy in The Hague regarding the case of the 11 Filipino workers who were trafficked by their former Dutch employer, Saints & Stars Gym.
We stress that the support the workers are receiving today is first and foremost the result of their own collective struggle and efforts to seek justice. It is a testament to the legitimacy of their fight as victims of human trafficking, not because of any institutional mechanism or proactive assistance from the Philippine Embassy, which has so far acted only in a reactive manner.
The claim of the Embassy that it “made arrangements for temporary shelter” must also be clarified: the shelter where the workers are staying was secured through the efforts of their pro bono Dutch lawyer, not the Embassy. The Embassy must be more accurate in its statements, as misrepresenting the source of support does not serve the interests of the very workers it is supposed to protect.
We acknowledge that the Embassy and the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) extended financial assistance to the workers. This support is a welcome development and we recognize its importance in addressing their immediate needs. However, 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.
The Philippine Embassy should also recognize that cases of human trafficking and labor exploitation of Filipinos in the Netherlands are not isolated. There are many more kababayans who continue to suffer under similar circumstances. This calls for a more proactive and systemic approach from the Embassy to protect, and assist vulnerable Filipino workers abroad, rather than reacting only after public attention is drawn. Further, this highlights the urgent need for the Marcos Jr. administration to prioritize building national industries that provide jobs and decent wages to Filipinos at home, instead of exporting workers abroad.
We call on the Philippine Embassy and DMW to go beyond one-time relief and ensure consistent, meaningful support until the workers’ case is resolved. The gains made in this struggle belong to the 11 Filipino workers themselves. Migrante Netherlands will remain by their side until they obtain justice and accountability.
