Filipino Expats Qatar

Press Release
13 July 2008

RP foreign posts unwillingness to file case against abusive employers, condemnable – Migrante ME

An alliance of overseas Filipino workers’ organizations in the Middle East today said despite pronouncement of several host governments in the Gulf Region to end abuses and protect OFWs rights, RP foreign posts remain reluctant in filling appropriate case against abusive employers, "thus, condemnable! ".

“Despite host governments’ assurance to end abuses and protect OFWs’ rights, RP foreign posts under the Arroyo administration have been observed to remain reluctant in filling appropriate case against abusive employers so that justice and rightful compensation will be rendered to OFW victims,” said John Leonard Monterona, Migrante Middle East coordinator.

On Wednesday, online news site Gulf News reported that the Saudi Ministry of Labor through its Undersecretary assured that necessary measures were set to prevent labor abuses on household workers in response to the report released by New York-based group Human Rights Watch that said migrant workers especially domestic helpers are denied rights afforded to other workers under Saudi labor laws.

On the other hand, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) government through its Labor Minister during a meeting with Sen. Jinggoy Estrada who was in UAE last week assured that UAE govt. will protect the welfare of overseas Filipino workers in the entire Emirates as reported on online news site Khaleej Times (www.khaleejtimes. com).

Migrante’s Monterona said OFWs, especially domestic helpers and construction workers, normally complain labor malpractices committed by their employer such as non-payment of basic wage, working more than the required 8-hour, non-payment of overtime work, sexual abuses and other inhumane treatment and even crowded and filthy accommodations.

“Migrante and fellow OFWs welcome the separate pronouncements made by the Saudi and UAE governments that it would assure and vows to protect migrant rights including OFWs on their respective countries. The Arroyo administration should take a bolder move to pursue OFWs rights’ protection in these countries,” Monterona added.

Monterona said the Arroyo administration should take these separate pronouncements made by the Saudi and UAE governments an opportune time by immediately instructing all RP foreign posts to explore diplomatic talks with the objective of concluding an OFW protection pact with Saudi and UAE counter-part governments.

“But, it is condemnable that our Embassy and Consular officials in the Middle East themselves are setting a “punishment-free” environment and a culture of impunity that favors alleged perpetrators and criminals especially on cases of mysterious deaths, sexual abuses and maltreatment and labor malpractices to OFW-victims by failing to conduct investigation and filling an appropriate case against the alleged perpetrators,” Monterona said.

Monterona said that embassy and consular officials are accustomed to swiftly repatriate OFW victims of sexual abuses and mysterious death without proper and thorough investigation and assistance in filing an appropriate case against their alleged perpetrators.

Migrante ME cited the mysterious deaths like the recent reported cases of OFWs Maria Vergarra from Abu Dhabi, Jeffrey Alberto from Dubai, Gilbert Angeles from Singapore, Eugenia Baja whose remains was already repatriated from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia last month, among many similar cases Migrante has documented.

Migrante ME also cited the case of OFWs Noel Lacbayan, Julius Balron and an unidentified cleaner companion who were illegally terminated by their employer National Cleaning Company in Kuwait where the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait failed to prevent the illegal termination, instead it agreed to subsequently repatriate the three (3) OFW-victims of labor malpractice.

Migrante’s Monterona added that these acts are tantamount to criminal neglect, disservice and injustice to all OFW victims and their families,” Monterona added.

“Philippine Embassy and PCG officials’ criminal neglect to all OFW victims are but a reflection of a greater national neglect and disservice of the present occupant in Malacanang who cares no more to the poor, and OFWs but only after their huge remittances used for her dole-out programs to keep her stay in power,” Monterona ended.

Migrante ME welcomes the move initiated by Senate President Manny Villar directing an investigation on the mysterious deaths of OFW-victims mentioned above. # # #

For reference:
John Leonard Monterona
Migrante Middle East regional coordinator
Mobile No.: 00966 564 97 8012