Gov't urged to stop sending domestic helpers to Middle East
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By Maxxy Santiago, ABS-CBN Middle East News Bureau
KUWAIT – Filipino community leaders in Kuwait have joined their counterparts in from the Middle East in calling for a moratorium on the deployment of household service workers (HSWs) to the region following the increasing number of abuses against Pinoy overseas workers.
"Kailangan po talaga kasi nga hindi tayo kayang protektahan ng gobyerno natin. Hindi rin tayo kayang protektahan ng kapulisan dito sa Kuwait. Kailangan talagang itigil muna. Maghintay tayo, ayusin muna iyong mga nakabinbin na kaso, pag naayos na yung mga nakabinbin na kaso at alam natin na kaya na tayong protektahan, masusunod ang kontrata, magkaroon ng magandang sistema, saka na lang iusad uli," said Ann Abunda, president of the Mga Oragon sa Kuwait.
Aside from the lack of protection, the open letter also mentioned the inadequacy in manpower and resources of embassies, consulates and labor offices in these countries to address the concerns and welfare of Filipino expatriates.
No laws have been enacted in these countries that would ensure the protection and rights of HSWs. It also cited the "sex-for-flight" issue that accused some Foreign Service personnel of exploiting distressed OFWs under their care.
The open letter was addressed to President Aquino, the Congress, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
"Kami po ang una-unang nakakakita sa mga pangyayari, sa mga nangyayari sa ating mga kababayan dito sa Kuwait. The worst is nakikita po namin kung paano sila namamaltrato. Napupulot namin na nahuhulog sa building, tumatalon sa building at yon ay sa pagmamaltrato sa kanila ng kanilang mga amo," said Hengie Taton, president of Pinoy Ambulance Nurses in Kuwait.
The letter has already gone viral on social networking site, Facebook.
"Para po kay President Noynoy Aquino, sana bigyan po ng pansin ang aming panawagan. At saka sa DOLE pati na rin sa DFA, na tingnan nyo pong mabuti kung ano po ang dapat gawin para po matigil ang karahasan na nangyayari lalo na po sa mga babaeng kasamabahay dito sa bansang Kuwait," said Eljan Embrado, Founder and President of Pilipino sa Kuwait.
"Kasi siguro matatauhan sila kung ganito ang ginawa ng gobyerno natin. Sana making ang gobyerno natin," added Ben Garcia, editor of Filipino Panorama Kuwait Times.
On the other hand, the Filipino Association of Secretaries of Employment Agencies in Kuwait has strongly opposed the call for the moratorium.
"Lahat ang nakikita puro negative side. Hindi rin nila nakikita kung ano iyong kagandahang nagawa ng pagtrabaho sa ibang bansa. Kung kaya ba suportahan ng Pilipinas o ng gobyerno natin ang buhay ng mga Pilipino, huwag na sila magpaalis sa Pilipinas. Lahat tayo nakikibaka. Lahat tayo umaalis sa Pilipinas para magkaroon ng magandang kapalaran. May kanya-kanya po tayong kapalaran kaya huwag po natin isisi sa gobyerno ang kapalaran natin," said the group's treasurer, Lailah Venturina.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait has already sent a diplomatic note to the Kuwait Ministry of Foreign Affairs requesting for assistance in the investigation and resolution of cases of abuses on OFWs. The embassy is ready to hear all sides to the moratorium issue.
"We have gathered all the communications, evidence, all suggestions that they have been giving to us and we’re going to present this to the host government and the Philippines for further study or consideration of options," said Charge d’ Affaires Atty. Raul Dado.
He added, "The host government is also interested in this situation. It’s going to be a decision based on all these things being considered in a very professional way, in a very comprehensive way to give justice to everyone not only to domestic who are being abused but also to other players in the employment environment".
"Kailangan po talaga kasi nga hindi tayo kayang protektahan ng gobyerno natin. Hindi rin tayo kayang protektahan ng kapulisan dito sa Kuwait. Kailangan talagang itigil muna. Maghintay tayo, ayusin muna iyong mga nakabinbin na kaso, pag naayos na yung mga nakabinbin na kaso at alam natin na kaya na tayong protektahan, masusunod ang kontrata, magkaroon ng magandang sistema, saka na lang iusad uli," said Ann Abunda, president of the Mga Oragon sa Kuwait.
Aside from the lack of protection, the open letter also mentioned the inadequacy in manpower and resources of embassies, consulates and labor offices in these countries to address the concerns and welfare of Filipino expatriates.
No laws have been enacted in these countries that would ensure the protection and rights of HSWs. It also cited the "sex-for-flight" issue that accused some Foreign Service personnel of exploiting distressed OFWs under their care.
The open letter was addressed to President Aquino, the Congress, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
"Kami po ang una-unang nakakakita sa mga pangyayari, sa mga nangyayari sa ating mga kababayan dito sa Kuwait. The worst is nakikita po namin kung paano sila namamaltrato. Napupulot namin na nahuhulog sa building, tumatalon sa building at yon ay sa pagmamaltrato sa kanila ng kanilang mga amo," said Hengie Taton, president of Pinoy Ambulance Nurses in Kuwait.
The letter has already gone viral on social networking site, Facebook.
"Para po kay President Noynoy Aquino, sana bigyan po ng pansin ang aming panawagan. At saka sa DOLE pati na rin sa DFA, na tingnan nyo pong mabuti kung ano po ang dapat gawin para po matigil ang karahasan na nangyayari lalo na po sa mga babaeng kasamabahay dito sa bansang Kuwait," said Eljan Embrado, Founder and President of Pilipino sa Kuwait.
"Kasi siguro matatauhan sila kung ganito ang ginawa ng gobyerno natin. Sana making ang gobyerno natin," added Ben Garcia, editor of Filipino Panorama Kuwait Times.
On the other hand, the Filipino Association of Secretaries of Employment Agencies in Kuwait has strongly opposed the call for the moratorium.
"Lahat ang nakikita puro negative side. Hindi rin nila nakikita kung ano iyong kagandahang nagawa ng pagtrabaho sa ibang bansa. Kung kaya ba suportahan ng Pilipinas o ng gobyerno natin ang buhay ng mga Pilipino, huwag na sila magpaalis sa Pilipinas. Lahat tayo nakikibaka. Lahat tayo umaalis sa Pilipinas para magkaroon ng magandang kapalaran. May kanya-kanya po tayong kapalaran kaya huwag po natin isisi sa gobyerno ang kapalaran natin," said the group's treasurer, Lailah Venturina.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait has already sent a diplomatic note to the Kuwait Ministry of Foreign Affairs requesting for assistance in the investigation and resolution of cases of abuses on OFWs. The embassy is ready to hear all sides to the moratorium issue.
"We have gathered all the communications, evidence, all suggestions that they have been giving to us and we’re going to present this to the host government and the Philippines for further study or consideration of options," said Charge d’ Affaires Atty. Raul Dado.
He added, "The host government is also interested in this situation. It’s going to be a decision based on all these things being considered in a very professional way, in a very comprehensive way to give justice to everyone not only to domestic who are being abused but also to other players in the employment environment".
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