Filipino Expats Qatar

News Release
Feb. 16, 2008

Migrante, distressed OFWs flock at Philippine Consulate in Dubai

Some members and officers of Migrante Chapter in Dubai, UAE along with more than 20 OFW victims have went yesterday (February 15) at the Philippine Consulate to demand from Consular Officials and POLO to facilitate immediate attendance to their cases.

“Migrante and OFW victims have trooped to Philippine consular office yesterday and seek an audience with our Labor Attache on the request of OFW victims which case our being neglected by our government representatives who must be responsible to attending their problems,” said Cyrin Pinpin, Chairperson of Migrante-UAE chapter based in Dubai.

Migrante-UAE Officers and members have assisted and provided guidance to more than 30 OFW-victims employed for Al Rawasi Rock Aggregate located at Fujeirah District and 12 OFW-victims employed for Princess House of Party Organizers to seek assistance from our POLO/OWWA about their problems.

The 30 OFWs working for Al Rawasi Rock Aggregate claimed that their employer is not giving them the right salary and the 12 OFWs employed Princess House of Party Organizers claimed that they were victims of illegal recruitment as their agency have promised them that their visit visa will be changed to work visa once they arrived in Dubai and were forced to leave country to work abroad.

Pinpin said that according to the victims they have gone several times to seek assistance from POLO/OWWA and have informed its staff about their case, but it seems that their pleas have just landed on POLO/OWWA officials’ thin ears.

Migrante further that since yesterday is a Friday, we have scheduled a meeting with our Consular official and labor officials along with the victims so that our Labatt can hear the problems direct from distressed OFWs.

Migrante and distressed OFWs met up with Consul Vicente "BUTCH" Bandillo, Labatt Virginia Calvez and OWWA Welfare Officer Marlyn Vail.

Migrante’s Pinpin said that in the meeting the distressed OFWs were surprised as our Labatt appeared having no knowledge about their case despite the fact that it has already been reported to their attention and instead blamed the victims for they don’t know what they are doing here.

“We are very much disgusted the way our officials treating our distressed OFWs seeking assistance from them and the manner they are handling OFWs’ complaints which are far beyond standard of true public service,” Pinpin added.

“These officials are quick enough defending themselves when victims confronted them regarding their attitude unbecoming to a public servant like them,” said Nhel Morona, Migrante-UAE Secretary General.

“We are urging distressed OFWs and victims alike to report such misconduct to Migrante so that we can ask DoLE Sec. Brion to investigate his personnel’s attitude in dealing our OFWs’ problems,” Morona said.

According to John Leonard Monterona, Migrante Middle East Coordinator, his group will report this matter to Senator Jinggoy Estrada who chairs the Senate Committee on Labor and Sen. Manny Villar who have filled Senate Resolution Resolution 248 - "RESOLUTION URGING THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS TO CONDUCT AN INQUIRY. IN AID OF LEGISLATION, ON THE ALLEGATIONS OF BAD ATTITUDE, NEGLIGENCE AND INCOMPETENCE OF SOME PHILIPPINE EMBASSY AND CONSULAR INCOMPETENCE OF SOME PHILIPPINE EMBASSY AND CONSULAR PERSONNEL STATIONED IN VARIOUS COUNTRIES IN HANDLING CASES OF DISTRESSED OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS, FOR THE PURPOSE OF ASSESSING AND REVIEWING EXISTING POLICIES AND RECOMMEND REMEDIAL MEASURES IN THIS REGARD, which scheduled hearing is set on February 27. # # #

References:

Cyrin Pinpin
Migrante-UAE Chairperson
Mobile No: 00971 503 948640

Nhel Morona
Migrante-UAE Secretary-General
Mobile No.: 0971 504 238851
John Leonard Monterona
Migrante Middle East Regional Coordinator
Mobile No.: Mobile No.:0966 564 97 8012