DOLE to revoke license of recruiters sending minors as OFWs —Bello


Department of Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III warns  recruitment agencies against sending minors abroad to work by faking the victims' ages.
Bello's stern warning came after he got information that one of the 83 repatriated OFWs early last week from the Riyadh, Saudi Arabia was only 17 years old.
"Yung agency na nag-deploy sa minor ay ipapakansela natin ang kanilang lisensya dahil sa illegal na pagpapadala ng isang household service worker na underage, biro mo mahigit 15 years old lang yung pinadala nya.  Maliwanag na kalokohan itong ginawa ng agency na eto, walang karapatan na maging agency yan walang karapatang magkaroon ng lisensya dapat ikansela agad," Bello said.
According to the victim (identified only as Tanya) she was only over 15 years old when she was sent to Saudi Arabia to work as household service worker.
She claimed she was made to work for a ruthless employer, who did not pay her salary, and ordered her to sleep at the rooftop for three weeks.
"Three weeks po ako pinatulog ng amo ko sa rooftop at hindi ko po alam kung bakit, wala pong kwarto doon at foam Lang ang higaan," Tanya said.
The batch of 82 distressed OFWs who arrived last Monday, September 23, sought refuge at the Bahay Kalinga in Riyadh before they were repatriated. 
Tanya's batch was the third group given exit visas by the Saudi Ministry of Labor through Belllo's intervention, with OWWA administrator Hans Cacdac. The the two labor officials visited Saudi Arabia last August.
Meanwhile, Bello said repatriation of distressed who sought refuge at the Bahay Kalinga will continue.
"Tuloy tuloy na po etong programa ng ating Pangulo, bukod sa dumating ngayon ay mayroon pang susunod na batch na mahigit isang daan na nais na makapiling ang kanilang mga mahal sa buhay," said Bello.
OWWA shoulders the travel expenses of repatriates going through Bahay Kalinga, the Philippine Overseas Labor Office's halfway house. —Ronaldo Concha/LBG, GMA News
 

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