RP post welfare officer still detained in Saudi jail; migrant rights group calls anew for his immediate release

More than 2 months from his arrest on 12 June 2010, the welfare officer of the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh is still detained in Deira Jail, Riyadh and pleading hard for his immediate release.

 

Welfare officer Bashir Ayob, 47 years old from Takurong, Sultan Kudarat, was arrested on 12 June while he is attending the repatriation formalities of distress OFWs. He is accused and a primary suspect for rushing into a Saudi hospital an OFW woman while she is about to give birth but unfortunately died.

 

Welof Ayob has been working at the Philippine Embassy since 2006 who was then designated as Officer-In-Charge of the Embassy’s Bahay Kalinga.

 

According to the reports, on 22 May at around 3:40 p.m. an unidentified OFW woman was rushed to the Shemesy Hospital in Riyadh by an OFW who was not identified; the OFW woman died.

 

Usually seen assisting sick OFWs at the Shemesy hospital for check-up almost every day, Welof Ayob then became the suspect. 

 

On 10 June, he was invited by the Saudi police for questioning about the said incident but was later cleared.

 

On 12 June, he was arrested while attending the repatriation formalities of distress OFWs at the immigration office in Riyadh.

 

His wife, Bing Ayob who is also an OFW nurse based in Riyadh, first appealed to the Philippine Embassy for assistance seeking for his immediate release from prison as he is innocent of the crime charged against him.

 

The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) made a public pronouncement that it will be extending assistance to Welof Ayob by hiring a local lawyer for his defense.

 

Migrant-Middle East, an alliance of Filipino migrant rights group, urged the Philippine Embassy-Assistance to the Nationals Section (ANS) to arrange Welof Ayob released by placing him under its custody.

 

“More than 2 months now since his detention, the RP post didn’t even bother to issue a certification that Welof Ayob is not the person who abandoned the OFW who died at the Shemesy hospital, and then arrange to place him under the embassy’s custody,” said John Leonard Monterona,  Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator.

 

Monterona said Welof Ayob’s continued detention is greatly affecting the numerous welfare cases he is to attend. 

 

“Now there are about 120 distress OFWs staying at the Bahay Kalinga, which unlike before under Welof Ayob’s care and guidance there are only about 40 distress OFWs at Bahay Kalinga,” Monterona added.

 

Monterona deplores the RP post slow action, if there is any, and post indecisiveness attending on Welof Ayob’s case. 

 

“His immediate release must be given top priority by the RP post as he is contributing a lot in attending distress OFWs cases, while other inept officials are merely sitting inside their air-conditioned offices at the Philippine embassy; these inept embassy officials deserve to be in jail, not Welof Ayob,” Monterona ended.

 

Abuses, maltreatment swell during Ramadan -migrant group

Migrante-Middle East, an alliance of overseas Filipino workers’ organizations in the Middle East today said the number of run away and distress OFWs especially domestic helpers is rising during Ramadan, where many Filipina domestic helpers and migrant of other nationalities could not anymore bear the difficulties of huge household chores, sleeping late at night but waking up early morning, and are having only a single meal daily.

 

“Since, domestic helpers are living on their employer’s house practically like an aliping namamahay during Philippine pre-colonial time, it is expected that they too would abide the cultural practices of their respective employers observing the Holy Month of Ramadan and this would be very difficult for them to adjust, coupled with the inhumane treatment accorded to them,” said John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator.

 

Monterona said Migrante chapters in the Middle East have noticed a rise in the numbers of run away and distress OFWs during Ramadan.

 

Tomorrow, 11 August, would be the start of the observance of Ramadan.

 

“If during the past months, we normally received an average of 5 cases of run away and distress OFWs daily, we expect to receive 8 cases during Ramadan,” Monterona added.

 

Monterona said this is the same observations on last year’s Ramadan where the numbers of run away and distress OFWs surged to about an average 8 cases daily as documented by our Migrante chapters.

 

“Just yesterday, I received an email from a group of Filipino workers working for on a beauty center in Kuwait asking for assistance due to labor malpractice by their employers,” Monterona added.

 

A portion of the OFWs email said, “We are Filipino workers working in Ms. Raneem Beauty Center, owned and managed by Mr. Mohammad Rebhi Youshief Suleiman a Jordanian citizen and his wife Madame Wafa Al-Awad a Kuwaiti. We would like to take this opportunity to finally raise complaints on them in violating our human rights and even our rights as a worker in this country holding 18visa. Our complaints were listed as follows: Illegal recruitment – almost all Filipino workers were brought in Kuwait as Tourist visa. And when asked to sent them back home, they asked for 100 thousand (Philippine money) in each person as compensation to their expenses in bringing the person in Kuwait, No contract – all of their Filipino workers didn’t sign any working contracts with them. Or had any clear verbal contracts with them, All the passports of the Filipino workers were taken and being kept inside their house in Yarmouk.
- All of the workers in the saloon are not under their names as sponsor or
employers.
- Forceful signing in a blank paper.
- Working 12 hours per day or equivalent as 72 hours a week and sometimes more
than. And breaks are less than an hour. No shifting happens as it was written on
the documents from the ministry of Kuwait.
- No overtime pay. No additional pay on the day the workers worked on holidays.
- No sick leave. If it happens that the worker are not able to report for work
she will be considered as absent and it will going to be deducted on their
salary for that month.
- Below minimum salary that mostly the workers are just getting KD 80 to KD 100
a month without any commission.
- Salaries are not fixed. Varies from the amount of their work each month.
- One day off each week from 10am to 4pm. And usually at the last week of the
month were there is lot of customers we are forced to go to work. Without any
added pay.

“ We are calling your attention to please investigate the situation we are
involved in. We are almost 60 Filipino workers in here, living inside the
accommodation. And hopefully, this suffering that we are into that we have since
we came here would end. We are already frustrated and helpless with our current
situation; our lips are sealed with fear that we cannot bear anymore to have
another day in this place, to know who had been hit again from our fellow
Filipinas. We had enough. And now we are willing to put an end on Mr. Suleiman’s
oppression. Not just for us here but for the coming batches that would be
tricked also by their words,” the workers said on their email to Monterona sent yesterday.

 

Monterona said Philippine labor department should be seriously working with counterparts host government to ink a pact providing protection mechanism for OFWs that would ensure that their well being and rights as migrant workers will be protected and guaranteed.

 

“We are yet to see what actions would the Aquino government to take in protecting deployed OFWs in the Middle East where most cases of abuses and maltreatment have been recorded yearly,” Monterona ended.

 

 

 

Murdered OFW's body arrives at NAIA

 

 

 

 

Migrante International chairperson Garry Martinez today accompanied the family of Mark Lloyd Carmen, an overseas Filipino worker murdered in Iran last July 1, 2010, to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport to fetch his remains.

 

Carmen went to Abu Dhabi last April 4 via tourist visa hoping to find work. He eventually got employed in one of the hotels there but had to leave before his visit visa expired. He left for the nearest exit point in Kish Island on June 11 to await the release of his working visa that was still being processed by his employer.

 

On July 1, Carmen bled to death after a Sudanese national stabbed him with a metal nail polisher. His roommates were unable to immediately bring him to the hospital as, under Sudanese law, only local authorities were allowed to take him. He died ten minutes after he arrived at the hospital, two hours after the stabbing incident.

 

Upon learning of his death, Leila Gonzaga, a relative residing in Abu Dhabi, went to Kish Island to claim his remains. The management of the hotel where he was staying paid for the hospital expenses and airfare for the transfer of his body to the Philippine embassy in Tehran.

 

Gonzaga was then told by embassy officials that it was the family’s responsibility to shoulder the cost of autopsy and airfare for the return of his remains to the Philippines amounting to almost half a million pesos. Sought for help, the Department of Foreign Affairs-Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs (DFA-OUMWA), informed Carmen’s mother that they had to pay USD8,000, or approximately P360,000, for the repatriation of her son’s remains.

 

On her visit to the morgue, Gonzaga was also shocked to learn that, apart from Carmen’s, at least a dozen more bodies of OFWs remain unclaimed in Iran morgues.

 

“This is cause for national outrage. The DFA was claiming that one of the main reasons for the delay in the repatriation of Carmen’s body was because many more bodies were being processed,” Martinez said.

 

He added, “The DFA should have no reason to justify failure to ship back the remains of OFWs when it has P100 million in repatriation funds. Saan na napunta ang pondong ito? Bakit ipinapabalikat sa mga pamilya ang expenses? We demand that the remains of OFWs in Iran be transported to the Philippines with haste and not a minute to lose.”

 

Martinez said that in the case of Carmen, it was not even the DFA that shouldered and processed the repatriation.  Carmen’s family sought the help of Taguig Rep. Freddie Tinga who brought the case to the DFA’s attention. “Kung hindi pa sa tulong na naman ng third party malamang ay pinagpasa-pasahan na naman ng DFA ang pamilya,” he said.

 

Martinez criticized the DFA for its “grave neglect” and called on the Aquino administration to give appropriate attention to the immediate return of the remains of OFWs in Iran morgues.

 

He also said that the Aquino administration should also prioritize the repatriation of at least 10,000 OFWs stranded in Kish Island. “Huwag na naman sanang hintayin ng gobyerno na maging malamig na bangkay na rin ang ating mga kababayan doon bago pa sila mapauwi rito.”

 

Carmen’s remains were brought to Western Taguig for his wake. He is survived by his wife, Baican, and two children.

 

 

Migrant group stands by the information about starving of jailed OFW

 

 

After exposing to the media the deplorable plight of a jailed OFW in Saudi prison few weeks back which the RP post in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia denied based on its issued statement, Migrante-Middle East said it stands by the information that OFW Joselito Zapanta has been starved in Malaz Central jail.

 

“Upon hearing the miserable plight of OFW Joselito Zapanta as his family sought our assistance, we have urged the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh to visit him, look unto his condition and provide the necessary assistance. We stand by the information given to us by his family that he has been starved after being beaten few weeks ago,” said John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator.

 

Monterona said that his group in fact investigated the report of his miserable condition inside the jail as OFW Zapanta has been telling his family via short messages and long distance calls that he has been manhandled and that not given food inside jail.

 

“Two days ago another fellow jailed OFW, Robert Lazarte called me asking for assistance to follow his case with RP embassy staff; I have asked him if he knew Joselito Zapanta. He said he has heard of him complaining too about lack of food, but he belongs to other prison cell, not on cell no.15,” Monterona quoted Lazarte.

 

Monterona said not only OFW Zapanta is complaining but as well other jailed OFWs inside Malaz Central jail about lack of food and toiletries for their daily used.

 

Monterona said it is expected that the RP post will strongly deny the miserable condition of OFW Zapanta and the other 70+ jailed OFWs in prison cell no.15. He added there are about more than 50 plus jailed OFWs in other cells at the Malaz Central jail.

 

Monterona also deplores the RP post by diverting the issue of neglecting jailed OFWs such as Zapanta and Lazarte. The RP embassy on a report said “publicity” will jeopardize Zapanta getting a clemency from the victim’s family.

 

“We are not discussing the criminal case of OFW Zapanta in public, we are merely asking the RP post to do its job by conducting regular visit so that they should know the deplorable conditions of our jailed OFWs for humanitarian consideration as they complained to us lack of food, water and toiletries,” Monterona added.

 

Monterona said he will not be surprised if one day the RP post would say that OFW Zapanta and the other jailed OFWs in prison cell are starving because they are now Muslim converts and that need to have fasting.

 

“Mid-August is the start of the Holy month of Ramadan, then it would be easy for the RP embassy to justify not the give them food and water,” Monterona added.

 

“We would like to remind our Embassy, Consular and Labor officials that they are duty bound to provide assistance to OFWs especially those who are in trouble, Migrante officers and members are here to remind them and ever ready to even extend assistance to run away, distress OFWs as this is our commitment in serving our fellow OFWs.” Monterona ended. # # # 

 

 

University of the Philippines National Engineering Center Seminars

University of the Philippines National Engineering Center Seminars

 Industrial Lubrication and Tribology

 The National Engineering Center will be conducting a seminar on Industrial Lubrication and Tribology on August 11-13 2010. The course is designed to orient and upgrade the skills of engineers and technicians on effective lubrication management program and at the same time answers the basic concerns of local industries on the area of maintenance. The target participants of this seminar are the maintenance supervisors, engineers and planners, lubrication engineers and facility engineers with background on BS Electrical or Mechanical Engineering or equivalent combination of academic and work experience. Seminar fee is at P13,000 inclusive of course materials, certificate, lunch and snacks. For further details please contact 922-4714 or email us at nec.training@up.edu.ph and/or visit us on our website www.upnec.com

 Analytical Methods and Materials Testing

The National Engineering Center will be conducting a seminar on Analytical Methods and Materials Testing on August 17-18, 2010. The training course covers the basic principles and utilization of different analytical techniques used in materials testing and characterization. These techniques include optical and scanning electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction, metallography, hardness testing, thermal analysis, and particle size analysis. The seminar objective is to provide participants with the basic knowledge on the use of the different analytical techniques in materials testing and characterization. The course is designed for people who are directly and indirectly involved in materials science and engineering activities in the academe, testing and analytical services, research and development offices and manufacturing industry. Seminar fee is at P9,500 inclusive of course materials, certificate, lunch and snacks. For further details please contact 922-4714 or email us at nec.training@up.edu.ph and/or visit us on our website www.upnec.com

 Materials and Process Quality Control in Construction

The National Engineering Center will be conducting a seminar on Materials and Process Quality Control in Construction on August 24-26, 2010. The seminar aims to 1) discuss the testing procedures for different construction materials 2) provide the participants with concepts of quality control in construction materials 3) Familiarize the participants with the task and responsibilities involved in materials sampling testing.  The course is designed for material testing engineers/Supervisors, quality control engineers/Supervisors, Construction Inspectors and faculty members. Seminar fee is at P13,000 inclusive of course materials, certificate, lunch and snacks. For further details please contact 922-4714 or email us at nec.training@up.edu.ph and/or visit us on our website www.upnec.com

Structured Cabling System Design

The National Engineering Center will be conducting a seminar on Structured Cabling System Design on August 246-27, 2010. The seminar aims to 1) become familiar with SCS technology 2) learn understand SCS design guidelines, considerations, and standards 3) Know the steps and procedures in designing SCS and practical application.  The course is designed for B.S degree in Electronics and Communications Engineering, Electrical Engineering or allied fields with experience in inside and outside plant telecommunications systems. Seminar fee is at P13,000 inclusive of course materials, certificate, lunch and snacks. For further details please contact 922-4714 or email us at nec.training@up.edu.ph and/or visit us on our website www.upnec.com

Other NEC Seminars this August to October 2010

Online Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Web Mapping August 17-19, 2010

Maintenance of Rotating Machines, September 8-10, 2010

Soil and Land Capability Mapping and Assessment, September 13-17 2010

Project Management in the Construction Industry, October 6-8, 2010

Modern Mapping Technologies for Environment and Natural Resource Management October 12-15, 2010

Energy-Efficient Lighting System Design for Architects and Engineers, TBA

Power Electronics: Switch Mode Power Supply Principles and Applications, TBA

1st P-Noy SONA makes OFWs guessing, but group vows to be watchful

 

After hearing President Benigno Simeon Noynoy C. Aquino III first State of the Nation Address on 26 July, a Filipino migrant rights group in the Middle East today said the President makes OFWs guessing.

 

“As OFWs contribution to the local economy are well recognized, about 10% of the yearly Gross domestic product (GDP), we were expecting that the President would mention on his 1^st SONA and re-state, clearly, boldly and in specific terms in accordance with his earlier marching orders to all concerned government agencies his action plan in attending OFWs woes and concerns,” said John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator.

 

It could be remembered that during his inauguration on June, the President issued directives to all concerned government agencies to promptly attend on OFWs concerns.

 

Monterona however said that since the President issued such directive to all concerned government agencies, there is no concrete actions have been taken by these agencies as a response to the President’s directives.

 

“What makes us guessing is that he never mentioned anything on his SONA about OFWs concerns despite that various OFW groups and Migrante chapters abroad have promptly laid down their legitimate concerns and issues in what we called Migrants agenda prior to his first SONA,” Monterona added.

 

Monterona further said his group will wait but will remain watchful until he reached his 100 days in office, as this will give us a hint how he will treat OFWs and their families.

 

“Is he different from the previous administrations or he is like them? We hope the Aquino administration would not be anti-OFW,” Monterona ended. # # # 

 

 For reference:

John Leonard Monterona

Migrante Middle East regional coordinator

Mobile No.: 00966 564 97 8012

On GAMCA clinics report on rising numbers of OFWs with HIV/AIDS

 

 

Reacting on the recent reports released by GAMCA, an association of 17 medical clinics conducting medical check-up through the ‘referral decking system’ for OFWs bound to Gulf Cooperating Council (GCC) countries, on the rising cases of OFWs infected with HIV and AIDS, an alliance of Filipino migrants rights group in the Middle East today said that the report was released with a motive and hidden agenda, that is to raise alarm in order to influence the new Aquino government to implement  compulsory AIDS test for all Mid-east bound OFWs.

 

“HIV/AIDS is a global phenomenon, and a concern of governments around the world; but it is totally misleading and unfair to equate that the country’s rising numbers of HIV and AIDS cases came from the OFWs especially those going and/or coming from the Middle East,” said John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator.

 

Monterona said GAMCA’s 21 recorded cases of OFWs who have possibly been infected with HIV and/or AIDS from January to June of this year is in fact only represent a very small percentage to the huge numbers of deployed OFWs in the Middle East. He said there are about 1.8-M OFWs deployed in the Middle East.

 

“We recognize the need for the government to prevent the spread of HIV and AIDS infections in the country, but to single out OFWs as HIV/AIDS carrier is unpleasant and at most foul!,” Monterona exclaimed.

 

Monterona, however, said GAMCA’s report must carefully and thoroughly be studied.

 

“There might be an increase on the numbers of HIV and AIDS infections in the country, but attributing it to OFWs as AIDS carriers is sweeping and unfounded,” Monterona added.

 

Monterona said the increase of HIV and AIDS cases could be attributed on the failure of previous administrations through the Health department to develop the needed HIV/AIDS awareness campaign or relevant program to address this concern despite the 2005 reports by the Philippine National AIDS Council on the increasing numbers of HIV and AIDS cases in the Philippines.

 

“Since 2005, the issue of increasing numbers of HIV and AIDS infections has already been raised; now GAMCA is re-cycling this issue to justify the need for all Mid-east bound OFWs to undergo compulsory AIDS test,” Monterona averred.

 

Monterona questions GAMCA’s motive for releasing its report as it is tainted with self-serving motive and hidden agenda.

 

“If GAMCA, which most member-clinics are still practicing the “referral decking system”,  would later recommend and lobby to the Aquino government the compulsory implementation of AIDS test for OFWs, then we’ll be ready to rally our ranks and protest against it,” Monterona warned.

 

Migrante’s Monterona said that mandatory AIDS test is unreasonable and may impinge the basic right of individuals such as its freedom of choice in relation to subjecting to the AIDS test.

 

“Mandatory AIDS test is unreasonable because in the first place previous administrations failed to implement a comprehensive HIV/AIDS awareness program. You can’t force someone to do what he is not aware in the first place,” Monterona averred.

 

Monterona also warned that if the mandatory AIDS test is implemented, thus charge OFWs the required fees, OFWs and families will protest because it is only an additional burden to OFWs in time of soaring prices of commodities and economic crisis.

 

“OFWs and their families will vow to protest against it,” Monterona declared.

 

Monterona, however, suggested that it is better for the government to start massive awareness campaign program on HIV/AIDS so that the public may know.

 

“As to requiring AIDS test to be compulsory and charging OFWs an additional fee, for sure this will face a strong opposition from OFWs and their families. Instead, voluntary and free-of-charge AIDS test could be good to be included in the awareness campaign program,” Monterona ended.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Migrant rights group hits Aquino govt., POEA on OFWs mandatory membership to PAG-IBIG

Receiving complaints from OFWs that the government through the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) is already charging an additional amount of Php.600 to all out-bound OFWs to get their Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) on top of other fees such as OWWA membership fee and Philhealth contribution, an alliance of Filipino migrants rights group today hits the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) for implementing a mandatory PAG-IBIG membership covering all OFWs.

 

“While we recognize the sound intent of the housing program of the government by providing housing loan facility for OFWs who mostly have no house of their own, we question the implementation of the new Memorandum Circular No. 06, Series of 2010, issued by the POEA on 7 July 2010, requiring OFWs mandatory membership to PAG-IBIG,” said John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator.

 

Monterona said The Home Development Mutual Fund, popularly known as PAG-IBIG, has already an existing housing loan facility for OFWs implemented for quite sometime.

 

“Before it is only optional, not mandatory, thus giving OFWs and their dependents leeway to choose which is better, appropriate, and practical considering the family’s priority, to get a housing loan from PAG-IBIG or just gradually built their own house from their earnings,” Monterona added.

 

Monterona said making OFWs membership to PAG-IBIG compulsory is like “hold-up” (i.e. robbing)  because it is tied up to getting an Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC), required for all out-bound OFWs and would-be OFWs.

 

“So an OFW would be paying, in order to get an OEC, P1,164 for OWWA membership, P900 for Philhealth, and the newly imposed P600 for PAG-IBIG, plus the P100 processing fee for a total of P2,764; this is on top of other fees and charges imposed by the government and the placement fee collected by recruitment agency,” Monterona added.

 

Monterona also deplores the POEA that is already charging OFWs P600 for PAG-IBIG coverage despite that it’s issued MC #6 clearly stated that the implementation of mandatory PAG-IBIG coverage shall start on 1 August 2010.

 

“Fellow OFWs have told us that upon getting an OEC at POEA main building, they were asked to pay P600 for PAG-IBIG membership -it was on the first week of July” Monterona added.

 

Monterona said the worst is yet to come in terms of imposing additional fees and charges as the Aquino government would need more funds, thus it would not hesitate to impose additional fees and charges to its citizens to augment the needed funds beefing up the government’s meager budget that was depleted by the Arroyo administration.

 

“Like the Arroyo administration, the Aquino government will likely be “mukhang pera” by imposing more burdens to its own people in the form of government fees and charges and more taxes to come,” Monterona averred.

 

Monterona said OFWs are always the government’s easy targets, imposing numerous unnecessary fees and charges and yet there is no or only meager program and services to OFWs and their dependents provided by the government.

 

“After hearing P-Noy first SONA, we are asking “is he only dreaming or he will be true to his words? The President did not even bother to say again his marching orders and directives to all concerned government agencies to attend OFWs concerns and issues. This is a bad indication that he too would be anti-OFWs?” Monterona ended.

 

 

 

Akala ba namin walang korap? Investigate Romulo in anomalous e-passport contract - Migrante Int'l

Migrante International today called on the Aquino administration to stop the increase in e-passport application fees in light of allegations that the contract entered into by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), headed by Secretary Alberto Romulo, for the procurement of the new e-passport is illegal and tainted with corruption.

 

Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and applicants have been complaining of the rise in the cost of passport fees following issuance of the new e-passports by the DFA to comply with international standards.

 

The new e-passport now costs P950 to P1,200 from P550 to P750 in the Philippines, while e-passport costs have risen in Hong Kong, Australia, Taiwan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Japan, in the Middle East and some parts of Europe to as much as thrice as the previous rates, and approximately $6 (USD) more than the fee prescribed for e-passports in the Philippines.

 

Garry Martinez, Migrante International chairperson, questioned the increase, saying that the DFA contract with French-owned Oberthure is marred with irregularities and grossly overpriced. (please see attached media briefer)

 

In an investigative report by the College Editors’ Guild of the Philippines, it was found out  that the cost of procurement of laminates used for the e-passport is overpriced by P50 per laminate or at least P120 million per year if the DFA releases three million e-passports annually.

 

The contract still has pending corruption cases at the Office of the Ombudsman and Supreme Court. The P857 million e-passport deal has also been the subject of congressional inquiries and investigations since 2007.

 

“Akala ba namin walang korap sa gobyernong ito? Hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin sinasagot at napapanagot si Romulo tungkol sa isyung ito pangungurakot,” Martinez said.

 

Martinez said that the DFA had no right to increase e-passport fees if the contract is overpriced.

 

“We demand a renewed investigation and immediate resolution to the alleged corruption in the e-passport contract. Instead of passing on the burden to our OFWs, corrupt officials involved in the illegal and overpriced deal should be held accountable,” he said.

 

Martinez also said that it is lamentable that the DFA has “squandered millions of pesos in corruption but neglected to provide welfare services, protection and much-needed assistance to our OFWs, especially those in distress and facing death row.” “Hindi na nga natutulungan ang ating mga OFW, kinokotongan pa,” he said.

 

Migrante International is set to file corruption complaints against Romulo and other officials involved in the e-passport contract before the Ombudsman and the Department of Justice. “We also ask Pres. Aquino to seriously consider recalling Romulo’s re-appointment as DFA head.”

 

On the first State of the nation Address of President Aquino on July 26, Migrante International will be raising its protest against the e-passport fee hike, among many other concerns, in an internationally coordinated action with its chapters abroad.

Regain passport ownership from employers of Mid-east based OFWs, migrant group urges RP posts

 

 

 

 

An alliance of overseas Filipino migrant rights group in the Middle East today urges the various RP posts in the Middle East to regain proprietorship of OFWs passport that were “surrendered” upon demand by their respective employers.

 

John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator said it became a normal practice by employers in Arab countries confiscating the passport of their hired OFWs upon arrival to job site.

 

He said various RP posts representing OFWs, should regain their passport that has been ‘confiscated’ by their employers.

 

Monterona cited that at the back of the old Philippine passport (the green one) it stated “This passport is the property of the Republic of the Philippines.”

 

“It is only in the Middle East that OFWs passports are confiscated by employers,” Monterona averred.

 

“Confiscation of OFWs passport by their employer has a negative connotation and serious implication on the status of the hired worker albeit the inhumane treatment to OFWs by their employers,” he added.

 

In Arab countries, migrant workers have been hired under the ‘sponsorship’ system whereby the employer will provide a work permit for its workers as sponsor.

 

In Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, the work permit is called “Iqama”, while in Qatar it is known as “Pataka”.

 

Monterona said in Saudi Labor Law for instance, setting the general principles and rules of an employer-employee relations, does not even mention that the hired worker’s passport needs to be surrendered or must be confiscated by the employer. “There is no obligation imposed by the host government labor law to surrender the passport of hired OFW,” he continued.

 

“In our initial study and research, there is no legal requirement imposed by the host-receiving governments in the Middle East to confiscate or surrender OFWs passport to their employer,” Monterona added.

 

Monterona cited that in the UAE for instance, its government has implemented a rule that migrant workers passport must not be confiscated from them by employer. However, still there are companies that are confiscating their hired workers passport.

 

“OFWs are paying costly passport only to be confiscated by their employer upon arrival to their respective job site,” Monterona added.

 

Monterona said this is OFWs rights issue but has been there for so long that even various RP posts didn’t mind at all. “What RP consular and labor officials doing about it?” he queried. (end) # # #

 

Reference:

John Leonard Monterona

Migrante Middle East regional coordinator

Mobile No.: 00966 564 97 8012

 

 

 

 

PNoy Must Act Now or Be Sorry Later! MIGRANTE-Japan Lays Demands for President Aquino's SONA

 

Press Release


MIGRANTE-Japan joins the call for PNoy to once-and-for-all address the plight of
millions of OFWs around the world.

In view of PNoy’s first SONA, the group composed of 15 Filipino organizations
across Japan calls on President Aquino “to state clearly his action plan on
behalf of more than 8 million OFWs in the remaining days of his first 100 days
in office and not just offer a mouthful of promises that he may never deliver.”
“Without a whimper to show concern for the sorry condition of many hard-working
compatriots overseas, President Aquino must lay clearly what’s in his agenda for
us and what’s his take on our demands,”  Nestor Puno, MIGRANTE-Japan
spokesperson said.

For one, the group demands PNoy to immediately recall erring Philippine embassy
and consulate officials in Japan who are not responsive and intolerant to their
needs and interests. Second, the Tokyo Embassy and Consulate General’s Office in
Osaka must streamline procedures to attend to Filipino nationals who are in dire
need of assistance, especially the sick, victims of abuse, and those in
detention for various reasons.  And third, pull down the cost of its services,
particularly the overpriced passport and other consular documents that is
siphoning whatever limited resources they have.

“Embassies and consulates are no haven for government officials who sleep on
duty while we suffer various forms of abuse and are unjustly treated,” said
Puno.

For the longest time, Japan-based Filipinos complain about arrogant and
irresponsible embassy and consulate officials who, according to them, never
cease to demand money from migrant Filipinos in exchange for run-of-the-mill
services.

“The sick and those in detention awaiting deportation have to beg for their
services. Embassy and consulate officials have always been detached from the
community; they hardly knew what’s going on in the field. Even paid employees
are very arrogant; they abhor us whenever we call to ask for assistance. These
must be stopped,” Puno lamented.

The group also complains about bureaucratic red tape inside the Tokyo embassy
and Consulate General’s Office in Osaka.

“These officials have the habit of introducing policies that instead of
streamlining procedures make them even more burdensome to us.  That is why the
sick die unattended while those in detention wallow in misery while waiting for
their action,” added Puno.

Meanwhile, the cost of passport in Japan is 4 times more expensive than its
actual cost in the Philippines.  Puno said that an e-passport in Japan costs Y
7,800 or roughly 4,000 pesos.  This has been the bone of contention considering
the current economic slump in Japan that is hurting migrant workers, in
particular. Puno’s group also complains about the extended processing time of 45
days and the very stiff requirements to secure the passport.

“The cost of e-passport in Japan is scandalously high for most Filipinos in
Japan who are already downed by the ongoing economic crisis.  We cannot fathom
why a passport made in Japan could be this expensive when the same could be
acquired in the Philippines for just PhP 950.  This is highway robbery,” said
Puno.

Around 30 leaders of various Japan-based groups and associations allied with
MIGRANTE have met recently to formulate their demands to PNoy and to call for
his immediate intervention on the sorry condition of OFWs in many parts of the
world, particularly the more than 40 cases of OFWs on death row and the recent
murder of two Filipina OFWs in Kuwait.

“Under the Arroyo government, migrant Filipinos in Japan had endured 9 years of
neglect and abuse.  We will not bear another day of misery that is why PNoy has
to immediately act on our demands or he shall lose face and risk getting the ire
of OFWs worldwide,” concluded Puno.

OFWs victim of labor malpractice appeal to P-Noy for help

Note: A press release from Migrante

 

More than 20 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) deployed in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia have sent their appeal letter address to President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III, a day before his First State of the nation Address (SONA), pleading for help as they have been victims of their employer’s labor malpractice and inhumane treatment.

 

John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator, said that on 22 July, more than 20 distress OFWs have sought assistance from the Kapatiran sa Gitnang Silangan (KGS), member organization of Migrante-Middle East.

 

“Our KGS-Migrante officers headed by KGS Secretary-General Mike Garlan have met the distress OFWs on July 22 upon their request for assistance as they have been subjected to various labor malpractices by their employer,” Monterona added.

 

The distress OFWs have been deployed early this year by batches during the first quarter of this year, while others have already been working for about a year.

 

They are working for Nuzha Project Group, a Riyadh-based contracting company.

 

“They were deployed by 3 different recruitment agencies in the Philippines such as Wavex agency, Real World agency, and World Production International Manpower Corporation, as mentioned on their signed letter, a copy of which was given to KGS-Migrante,” said Garlan.

 

On their signed handwritten letter address to President Aquino, the distress OFWs said that they are not paid of their salaries, working more than 8 hours and yet their employer is not paying overtime pay, no health card or medical insurance, poor and unsanitary accommodations, among other complaints. 

 

The distress workers also allege that their respective recruitment agency in the Philippines have issued fake documents such as employment contract and expired work visa, that put their status at risks upon arrival to the job site.

 

“They told us that they have been forced to sign a new employment contract which terms and conditions are different from the original employment contract they have signed in the Philippines facilitated by their recruitment agencies,” Garlan added.

 

KGS-Migrante will be officially endorsing their case to the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Riyadh and will be having a case dialogue on July 30.

 

Monterona, on his part, said the distress OFWs are clear victims of labor malpractices, not only by their employer but also by their recruiters in the Philippines that deployed them. “It’s like a double whammy!” he exclaimed.

 

Monterona added these are the same cases of labor malpractices, abuses, maltreatment, lack of on-site services and welfare programs, recipient of numerous unnecessary government fees and charges, among many other OFWs concerns, we would like to convey to Pres. Aquino so that he may do something about it.

 

“On his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) Migrante chapters in the Middle East challenge Pres. Aquino III to re-iterates his previous marching orders and directives during his inauguration, but this time he should make it clear, bold and specific what actions to take such as providing more on-site services and protection for OFWs abroad, lowering or scrapping of unnecessary fees and charges imposed to OFWs by the government, among many others,” Monterona ended.