They scrounge garbage bins for leftover food and for anything to sell. They pile up debts amounting to KD500 ($1,830 at an exchange rate of KD1=U$3.66) in a bakala or sari-sari store (convenience store). They even beg for food or money from fellow Filipinos in Kuwait. All these, they had to endure to survive. But the 49 OFWs are not about to give up. They have resolved to fight for their unpaid salaries, and against unjust deductions and other contract violations.

BY AUBREY MAKILAN
MIGRANT WATCH
Bulatlat
Vol. VIII, No. 6, March 9-15, 2008

They scrounge garbage bins for leftover food and for anything to sell. If they were able raise 100 fils, approximately 37 cents, from selling cans, cartons and anything that they found in the garbage bin, they would be able to buy kubos or Arabian bread for their meal. They pile up debts amounting to KD500 ($1,830 at an exchange rate of KD1=U$3.66) in a sari-sari store (convenience store). And when these were not enough, they even beg for food or money from fellow Filipinos in Kuwait. All these, they had to endure to survive in Kuwait.

As if these were not enough, two of the 49 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Kuwait who have complained of contract violations by their employer have more things to worry about. Jason Baldoza and Arnold Mirando who are just waiting for their unpaid salaries to be able to buy plane tickets for their trip back to the Philippines are worried that they would be left with nothing if they are not able to collect soon. Their Iqama or civil ID expired on March 8 and a penalty of KD 2 ($7.32) would be deducted from their unpaid salaries daily for as long as they stay in Kuwait without a valid contract and Iqama after a month of expiration.

Contract violations

The 49 OFWs were recruited and deployed to Kuwait by the Great Provider Service Exporters, Inc. Before being deployed to Kuwait, they signed contracts with the Kuwait & Gulf Link Transport Company (KGL). The contract even had the seal of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) and was verified by the Philippine labor attaché in Kuwait. But when they arrived in Kuwait, some of them were made to sign a side agreement stating that their employer would be the Gulf Coast Shipping Services Co This was alleged to be an anomalous agreement that the Philippine labor attaché in Kuwait deemed order and legal.

As it turned out, all the 49 OFWs were subcontracted by KGL to different employers. While those who were made to sign the side agreement worked with Gulf Coast Shipping Services, others were subcontracted to other companies to work as cleaners, tea boys, security guards and warehousemen, according to the Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants (APMM) and Migrante-Kuwait. Adding to their woes, Gi Estrada, APMM Area Coordinator, said that the salaries of the 49 OFWs were either delayed or were not given at all. Except for nine workers who have been in the company for nine years, majority of the 49 OFWs have been in KGL for a little more than a month to three months.

Aside from the delays, KGL made several deductions from their KD60 ($219) monthly salaries: KD5 ($18) for transportation, KD5 ($18) for accommodations, KD6 ($21.96) for airfare for 17 months. Some of them heared that the KD6 was supposedly for their placement fee. But the OFWs said that they already paid P5,000 ($122 at an exchange rate of $1=P40.85) each as placement fee and they even have a receipt to prove it. When pressed for an explanation, KGL officials said that the KD6 deduction was for the Iqama. But, Estrada said, the Iqma costs only KD 10 ($36.60), which is valid for the duration of their work contract.

Thus, their salary amounted to only KD44 ($161.04) a month, even lower by a KD to the monthly wage of a domestic helper in Kuwait. The KD5 for accommodations deducted from them is for a small flea-infested room where 25 OFWs were made to share.

APMM Research and Documentation Program Officer Aaron Ceradoy said the company does not provide the workers with their pay slips and time cards. The 49 complaining OFWs also said that they were made to work 12 hours a day and were not paid for their overtime work.

When they were recruited by Great Provider Service Exporters, the 49 OFWs were told that they would receive a net amount of KD60 ($219) a month. But the official contract that they signed, which even had the POEA seal on it, did not specify the salary that they would receive. This contract was even authenticated by the labor attaché in Kuwait when they arrived.

Estrada said one of the OFWs later discovered a KGL contract, which showed that it receives KD140 for each worker it deployed to one if its clients. Worse, the OFWs deployed by KGL to an airport in Kuwait were not given their basic pay. KGL reasoned out that they were already earning enough money from tips, from which KGL also deducted KD7 ($26.62) for every KD10 ($36.60) tip earned.

These, Estrada said, are but some of the contract violations the 49 OFWs are complaining about.

POLO

The OFWs reportedly filed a complaint with the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) on
Jan. 24 and followed this up with a faxed letter to the office of Labor Attaché Leopoldo de Jesus.

In an email loop, de Jesus said he facilitated the bringing of some foodstuff for the workers in their dormitory. APMM’s Estrada however argued that the food was distributed to the OFWs only on Feb. 21, almost a month after the initial complaint was lodged at the POLO office. Estrada added that during the distribution photos were taken and a banner of Great Provider Services, Inc. was displayed.

De Jesus also said that through his office’s intervention, the company updated the Filipino workers’ salaries and provided them with new accommodations. He also said that he demanded plane tickets for the nine OFWs who have completed their contracts with the company.

 Save as PDF