Migrant group challenge RP officials claim of better pay for OFWs in Kuwait
MANILA, Philippines — Philippine officials are deluding themselves in claiming that the era of cheap labor in Kuwait is over, a group of migrants based in Hongkong said on Wednesday.
In a press statement, the Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants (APMM) pointed to news reports quoting Ambassador Ricardo Endaya and Labor Attaché Josephus Jimenez as saying most Filipino domestic workers in Kuwait are now earning 109 Kuwaiti dinar or US$400 per month.
Endaya was also reported saying that the Philippine government has requested employers to raise the average pay for those working in the service sector, especially in fast food chains, to at least KD120 (US$444) from the current KD85 (US$315).
Jimenez, in a separate report, was quoted saying that the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) will not process the job orders of any placement agency with an absconding domestic worker housed in the Filipino Workers Resource Centre (FWRC).
APMM coordinator Gi Estrada said: "That is where their illusion ends. If that is really the case then why did the ambassador say that they would want to promote highly skilled Filipino workers and decrease the deployment of domestic workers? And if the labor attaché is true to his word, why did he state that he has suspended only one placement agency if he also admitted in a much earlier press release that 5 to 10 domestic helpers run away form their employers each day and seek shelter in the FWRC. May we also ask why Atty. Jimenez is willing to suspend only manpower agencies and not employers of the domestic workers?"
Contrary to the statement of the two officials, Estrada said, most Filipino domestic workers in Kuwait still receive KD45 (US$167) – KD50 (US$185) monthly.
He said the starting salary for those working in Sheraton hotel, for instance, is KD75 (US$283); for caregivers in Al Essa KD70 (US$264) + KD10 (US$38) food allowance; Filipino cleaners in KGL and gas boys in OULA are paid KD60 (US$226).
The Kuwaiti government has also recently stipulated a minimum wage of KD40 (US$148) for cleaners and KD70 (US$259) for security guards, he further said.
“Clearly both the ambassador and labor attaché are dreaming. And both would want Kuwait to hire more Filipino skilled workers.
“While it is true that the deployment of new hires domestic workers in Kuwait fell from 19,097 in 2006 to just 4,806 in 2007, there is no corresponding big increase in the number of IT-related workers and nurses deployed to Kuwait during that time. The former even lessened from 11 to 6 while the latter had a minimal increase from 354 – 393," Estrada said.
Instead of having grand delusions, we suggest that the ambassador and labor attaché do more in upholding the rights and welfare of OFWs in Kuwait than in promoting the deployment of more Filipinos there.
She cited the case of Canora Paloma who has been detained for 5 months now even though she reportedly has no case pending.
Paloma was detained when her employer reported her to the police station after her co-worker escaped and sought shelter in the embassy, which has not assisted her.
“She is now worried about the conditions of her children in the Philippines who are in need of her guidance and financial support," said the APPM statement.
The promotion of OFWs in Kuwait will be through a Filipino employment and remittance summit there on December 3 – 4 to be graced by no less then Secretary of Labor Marianito Roque, the person who will implement the mandatory psychological tests for domestic workers. - GMANews.TV
In a press statement, the Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants (APMM) pointed to news reports quoting Ambassador Ricardo Endaya and Labor Attaché Josephus Jimenez as saying most Filipino domestic workers in Kuwait are now earning 109 Kuwaiti dinar or US$400 per month.
Endaya was also reported saying that the Philippine government has requested employers to raise the average pay for those working in the service sector, especially in fast food chains, to at least KD120 (US$444) from the current KD85 (US$315).
Jimenez, in a separate report, was quoted saying that the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) will not process the job orders of any placement agency with an absconding domestic worker housed in the Filipino Workers Resource Centre (FWRC).
APMM coordinator Gi Estrada said: "That is where their illusion ends. If that is really the case then why did the ambassador say that they would want to promote highly skilled Filipino workers and decrease the deployment of domestic workers? And if the labor attaché is true to his word, why did he state that he has suspended only one placement agency if he also admitted in a much earlier press release that 5 to 10 domestic helpers run away form their employers each day and seek shelter in the FWRC. May we also ask why Atty. Jimenez is willing to suspend only manpower agencies and not employers of the domestic workers?"
Contrary to the statement of the two officials, Estrada said, most Filipino domestic workers in Kuwait still receive KD45 (US$167) – KD50 (US$185) monthly.
He said the starting salary for those working in Sheraton hotel, for instance, is KD75 (US$283); for caregivers in Al Essa KD70 (US$264) + KD10 (US$38) food allowance; Filipino cleaners in KGL and gas boys in OULA are paid KD60 (US$226).
The Kuwaiti government has also recently stipulated a minimum wage of KD40 (US$148) for cleaners and KD70 (US$259) for security guards, he further said.
“Clearly both the ambassador and labor attaché are dreaming. And both would want Kuwait to hire more Filipino skilled workers.
“While it is true that the deployment of new hires domestic workers in Kuwait fell from 19,097 in 2006 to just 4,806 in 2007, there is no corresponding big increase in the number of IT-related workers and nurses deployed to Kuwait during that time. The former even lessened from 11 to 6 while the latter had a minimal increase from 354 – 393," Estrada said.
Instead of having grand delusions, we suggest that the ambassador and labor attaché do more in upholding the rights and welfare of OFWs in Kuwait than in promoting the deployment of more Filipinos there.
She cited the case of Canora Paloma who has been detained for 5 months now even though she reportedly has no case pending.
Paloma was detained when her employer reported her to the police station after her co-worker escaped and sought shelter in the embassy, which has not assisted her.
“She is now worried about the conditions of her children in the Philippines who are in need of her guidance and financial support," said the APPM statement.
The promotion of OFWs in Kuwait will be through a Filipino employment and remittance summit there on December 3 – 4 to be graced by no less then Secretary of Labor Marianito Roque, the person who will implement the mandatory psychological tests for domestic workers. - GMANews.TV
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