OWWA Extends Assistance to OFW who died in Kuwait


OWWA Extends Assistance to OFW who died in Kuwait
Helen Riobuya Sarocam, a household service worker in Kuwait reportedly fell from the 5thfloor of her foreign recruitment agency’s (FRA’s) accommodation at about 5:00 AM on May 22, 2015.

As per report from POLO-OWWA Kuwait, the worker stayed at her FRA’s accommodation after she was brought to the Embassy’s Consular Office where she executed an affidavit of refusal to continue working and her request to go home. Her FRA has already issued plane ticket for her return to the country and is due to leave Kuwait on May 24 when the incident happened.

Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis- Baldoz immediately instructed the OWWA to extend the necessary assistance to the family of the deceased worker and to expedite the repatriation of her human remains.

OWWA Administrator Rebecca J. Calzado, on the other hand, assured the family of the worker that they will receive benefits from OWWA. She also instructed OWWA Region 11 to provide psycho-social counseling to the family of the late worker to cushion the impact of the OFW’s demise.

OFW Sarocam, a native of Monkayo, Compostella Valley, was an active OWWA Member at the time of death.

OWWA Region 11 and DFA-Mindanao are in the process of facilitating necessary documents for the immediate repatriation of the worker’s human remains.

Families of OFWs who have active OWWA Membership at the time of death will receive Death and Burial Benefit amounting to Php 220,000.00 if the cause of death is accident and Php 120, 000.00 if death is due to natural cause. The families of active OWWA members are also eligible to avail of the Education and Livelihood Assistance Program (ELAP), a one-time scholarship-cum-livelihood grant for the surviving heirs of an active OWWA Member. The surviving spouse will receive Php 15,000.00-worth of Livelihood Assistance while the first-born child will receive an educational assistance until the beneficiary finishes college education.

While the OWWA is awaiting advice from the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait as to the schedule of the repatriation of human remains of OFW Sarocam, it would provide the necessary assistance and intervention to the family of the deceased worker. OWWA Repatriation team will extend airport assistance upon the arrival of the human remains. The Team will likewise assist the family of the deceased worker in getting clearance and other papers from Customs and Quarantine officials to facilitate the release of the OFW’s remains to the bereaved family.

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