An alliance of Middle East-based overseas Filipino workers’ (OFW) groups demanded that Philippine embassy officials who are forcing OFWs to admit to trumped-up charges filed against them by their abusive employers and deceiving them into thinking that it is the “only option left” so that they could be repatriated must be sacked from office.
BY Bulatlat.com
MIGRANT WATCH
Vol. VIII, No. 29, August 24-30, 2008
An alliance of Middle East-based overseas Filipino workers’ (OFW) groups demanded that Philippine embassy officials who are forcing OFWs to admit to trumped-up charges filed against them by their abusive employers and deceiving them into thinking that it is the “only option left” so that they could be repatriated must be sacked from office.
“Coercing or forcing OFW-victims to admit to trumped-up charges filed by their abusive employers is tantamount to criminal neglect most especially if it comes from Philippine embassy officials in Jordan who are supposed to provide legal assistance to OFW-victims. We suspect that embassy officials collaborated with abusive employers in exchange for something in order to absolve employers of their crimes against our OFWs,” said John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator.
Migrante-ME said that their local chapter in Davao City has received reports that majority of the 37 OFWs repatriated last week from Jordan said they were forced to admit to the “crimes” hurled against them because Philippine Embassy officials told them that it was the ‘only option’ so that they could be repatriated.
May Ann Abat, 23, of Davao del Norte, Jenylyn Caro, 24, of North Cotabato, and Bai Lanie Kayao, of Maguindanao province, confirmed the said reports.
Monterona said that the compromising stand of Philippine embassy officials in handling labor or rights cases of OFWs is tantamount to betrayal and deception by the very officials who are supposed to protect them.
The OFW leader said the weak support system from “arrogant, inutile, inept Philippine Embassy and labor officials abroad” is the main factor hampering the immediate resolution of cases of runaway OFWs. He said that the increasing number of stranded OFWs could be attributed to this.
“We are calling on the Senate to thoroughly investigate the issue of ‘coercion’ by Philippine Embassy officials on OFW-victims,” Monterona said
Migrante-ME said these revelations should be a wake up call to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) to start ‘cleansing’ its ranks of incompetent officials abroad so that ‘rotten eggs’ would be removed from their agencies.
Monterona said that the acts of officials abroad are but a reflection of how the present Arroyo administration badly treats OFWs and their families. “This administration has been observed to be negligent of OFWs who are among its last priorities,” he continued.
“If the Arroyo administration really cares for OFWs, it should instruct all line agencies under it to work for and enter into labor rights agreements with receiving countries to ensure the protection and advancement of OFWs’ rights and welfare, to send capable, competent public servants abroad at the service of OFWs who have been contributing much to keep our economy afloat, and to immediately scrap remittance charges and fees to provide economic relief to OFW families,” Monterona said..
Migrante-ME said the Arroyo government is not worthy of emulation by other migrant-sending governments and receiving governments, but rather deserves international condemnation. (Bulatlat.com)
