DOLE suspends Saudi recruitment firm, to pursue case for OFW scalded by employer

Philippine labor officials have suspended a Saudi Arabian recruitment agency over the case of an overseas Filipino worker who was allegedly abused by her employer earlier this month.

The Department of Labor and Employment said the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Riyadh will also pursue a case for the Filipino worker, who it identified as Pahima Alagasi Palacasi.

"OFW Palacasi is determined to file a case against the employer. The Embassy and the POLO will assist her," Labor Attaché to Riyadh Rustico Dela Fuente said in a report to DOLE Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz.

Dela Fuente said Palacasi is presently staying at the Bahay Kalinga, where he said she is "stable, in high spirits, and is relating well with fellow OFWs."

Earlier, a report on Arab News said Philippine officials in Saudi Arabia are seeking intervention for Palacasi, who it did not name at the time.

The Arab News report said Palacasi is now under the custody of the Philippine embassy.

Dela Fuente said the POLO has placed the Saudi recruitment agency, which a DOLE news release identified as Al Motkasess Recruitment Office, under "documentary suspension."

This effectively prevents the agency from recruiting any more workers from the Philippines.

"Ambassador Ezzedin Tago had given instructions to ANS (Assistance to Nationals Section) and the POLO to jointly look into the case of OFW Palacasi, a 23-year-old female household service worker from Malapaan, Pikit, Cotabato, after photos of her wounds went viral in social media over the weekend," he added in his report.

For her part, Baldoz ordered the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, Philippine Overseas Employment Administration and the National Reintegration Center for OFWs to work with the POLO in assisting Palacasi and her family.

"Even if Palacasi is not an OWWA member, she can avail of a livelihood assistance under the Balik-Pinay, Balik-Hanapbuhay when and if she decides to come home," she said.

Ordeal

Dela Fuente said Palacasi's ordeal started last March when she arrived in Riyadh. Palacasi was deployed by A-M Philippine Professional Services Corp., a Philippine recruitment agency, to Al Motkasess Recruitment Office.

Shortly after arriving at the house of her employer Adil Akmad Badjuid, Palacasi complained of homesickness and cried. She also claimed she was constantly kicked and lashed by her male employer, who brought her back to the SRA.

But at the time, she did not report her alleged maltreatment supposedly to avoid complicating her situation. When she returned from the Saudi recruitment agency, she was sent to the house of her employer's mother.

Last May 4, her sponsor's mother poured boiled water over her supposedly due to a misunderstanding as her sponsor’s mother did not speak English.

She eventually escaped from the hospital on May 11, and went to the house of her cousin. On May 13, the employer reported to the SRA that Palacasi ran away while undergoing treatment.

On May 17, Palacasi's cousin posted photos of Palacasi's wounds on Facebook. The next day, personnel from the Philippine Embassy fetched Palacasi and brought her to the Shumaisy Hospital.

Palacasi then got counseling from a social welfare attache from the Department of Social Welfare and Development. —Joel Locsin/KBK, GMA News

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