Living Abroad

I've got mixed feelings over the news that prominently rule primetime news programs: Pinoys working illegally here in JP. How they try to run away and evade raids. Some are fortunate to escape (at least for the time-being) and some would be deported back to the PH. Many of these poor men and women have been staying here for years, and sadly, they never made efforts to legalize their stay. One woman who gave birth to a daughter here 8 years ago, didn't even register her daughter to the National Registry, and so, she inherently earned herself an illegal alien status. I might be hypocrite and probably bias but I am saddened over the fact that a simple paperwork was not filed by their employer, and that the illegally employed didn't make the effort to make things right.

I hope that my felow Pinoys and other nationalities also experience the finer side of things (read: legal), there are the good stuffs.

1. Free (or at a minimum fee) Japanese lessons at City Halls or Townhalls. It's a good chance to sharpen your skills, and meet other people.
2. Social Security Insurance - assures you of pension after you resign to ensure you've got something to support yourself while waiting for your next job. *For foreigners returning to their country, a part of your contributions is refundable. It might not be worth million dollars but it still worth something...
3. Medical insurance is also a plus. And unlike in PH, pimples, accupuncture and massage are classified under insured services and are acceptable in some institutions.
4. Labor rights protection (the same as any other Japanese) and human rights..of course.
5. The freedom to live a normal life without fear that tomorrow you may walk to an immigration officer. Plus, the freedom and capability to go to back to your homeland at any given time,and then come back again...

I am no international relations and immigration specialist, but I really hope that we respect and follow the law(both for the people who hire and those who are hired). Sure, people need jobs and needs to earn, but I'm sure there's a legally realistic way of getting in...