Abused OFWs arrive home from Kuwait

Over 20 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who experienced maltreatment in Kuwait arrived home on Thursday with harrowing tales to tell, according to a report by GMA News' Steve Dailisan on "24 Oras."
Hazel Camacho, for one, could not help but become emotional when he stepped into the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) with neither a friend nor a relative to meet her.
"Masaya lang po ako't nakarating kami dito nang maayos," said the mother of three from Nueva Ecija who accused her employer of maltreating her.
"Kaya ko po magtiis ng trabaho kaya lang po sinasaktan ako," she said.
For Charmaine Gregorio, her experience as a first-time OFW was a "nightmare."
"Napakalaking bangungot," she said. "Nakaranas ng pananakit, yung pamamalo ng tsinelas. Suwerte na lang po kasi nakauwi ako ng buhay, hindi po yung bangkay na."
The report said all the repatriated OFWs worked legally in Kuwait and with contracts, although some of them weren't able to finish it for reasons ranging from abuse to homesickness.
It added that the OFWs could still return to Kuwait to work if they want to as no cases were filed against them there.
A bus provided by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) brought the OFWs from the airport to a halfway house where they would temporarily stay before pushing for their home provinces.
Aside from transportation, OWWA is also offering employment, loan and legal assistance to the repatriated OFWs, the report said.
"May shelter po tayo doon kung saan libre po ang food and accommodation habang inaasikaso po natin ang kanilang pag-uwi," said Yolly PeƱaranda, head of OWWA's repatriation team.
The report said some 50 distressed OFWs in Kuwait are set to be repatriated soon. —KBK, GMA News

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