KAKAMMPI News

MANILA, Philippines - Filipino workers who have been stranded in Jeddah will have to suffer the consequences once they are found to have violated laws in Saudi Arabia. Esteban Conejos Jr., undersecretary for migrant workers affairs, said only those whose work permits or visas have expired, or whose jail sentences have been served, would be allowed to go home. He said they should submit themselves to Saudi authorities for investigation and processing which can lead to their immediate repatriation, or imprisonment if found to have violated Saudi laws. Conejos said the Philippine government can not provide funds for payoff purposes because this would be in direct contempt of and in violation of Saudi laws and may lead to strained relations between Saudi and the Philippines. There are almost 300 Filipinos stranded in Jeddah for months now. Most of them ran away from their employers, or entered the kingdom without appropriate work permits or visa. The Filipinos have been demanding that they...

MANILA, Philippines - President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Monday appointed Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) chief Marianito Roque as acting Labor secretary to replace Arturo Brion who took his oath as Associate Supreme Court Justice. Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said Roque would eventually become full-fledged labor secretary because Malacanang intends to submit his appointment papers to the Commission on Appointments for confirmation when Congress resumes session. Roque has been with the OWWA since September 2004. Brion, the 15th member of the High Court, is expected to be the tiebreaker in the pending case filed by acting Higher Education chair Romulo Neri before the Supreme Court on his appearance before the Senate hearing on the broadband controversy. Bunye said Brion is “a man of proven integrity and independence," as shown during his stint at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Court of Appeals and Department of Labor and Employment. “In all of these positions,...

MANILA, Philippines - Filipino professionals, particularly nurses planning to migrate and work in New Zealand are warned to carefully study the contracts they are entering into so they would not be added to the increasing number of Filipinos being abused there. Dennis Maga, project coordinator of Employment Relation Education (ERE) in NZ, said his group has been receiving reports about Filipinos falling victims to recruiters who switch or substitute contracts and charge exorbitant fees. The New Zealand Nurses Organization has also issued a warning through its website about exploitative employment and immigration practices that many Filipino nurses have experienced. “Some international agencies charge exorbitant rates to complete the necessary immigration and registration requirements. Other dubious practices by immigration agencies are withholding personal documents including passports; pressuring nurses to sign up for hire purchase agreements soon after arrival; arranging deductions f...

The Social Security System (SSS) has collected P317.94 million from 8,000 delinquent housing loan borrowers under an amnesty program that started in December 2006, a top official said. SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Corazon de la Paz-Bernardo said full payments by 994 delinquent borrowers totaled P155.79 million, and another P162.15 million was collected from 7,006 members who paid by installment. “Other delinquent borrowers have a few days left to update their SSS housing loans before the amnesty ends on March 10,” she said. “Under the amnesty, borrowers will only pay the principal and interest, without penalties.” Borrowers who fail to pay amortization for six months are considered delinquent. The SSS has about 20,000 delinquent housing loans. Members can apply for loan restructuring under the amnesty program, which will allow them to pay lower amortization at longer terms. Over 4,700 borrowers had their loans restructured since 2006. ...

The experiences, entrepreneurial skills and various products of women overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who have engaged in business was showcased at the "Kapihan at Pulong-Pulong ng mga Kababaihang OFW," a round-table discussion that was telecast live, Friday, over NBN- Channel 4. The 'Kapihan,' sponsored by the Department of Labor and Employment's (DOLE) National Reintegration Center for overseas Filipino workers (NRCO) was broadcasted live from the NRCO office in Intramuros, Manila. Labor and Employment Secretary Arturo D. Brion hosted the round-table discussion with beauty queen and entrepreneurship advocate Miriam Quiambao as co-host. Brion said the 'Kapihan' paid tribute to OFWs women entrepreneurs who have successfully put up their businesses and livelihood projects with the assistance of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and non-government organizations Unlad Kabuhayan and Atikha. OWWA Director Vivian Tornea also explained OWWA'...

Secretary Arturo D. Brion has instructed the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration to suspend immediately the implementation of POEA Memorandum Circular No. 4, Series of 2007. The POEA will process documents of directly hired Filipino workers using the procedures used before January 15, 2008 where repatriation and performance bonds are not required from the employers. MC1_s

The POEA warns applicants against accepting offers from a certain Mrs. Garcia Jose who is illegally recruiting Filipino workers for Spain through e-mail. Mrs. Garcia promises employment upon arrival in Spain but the supposed job orders were found to be non-existent and the workers would leave the country using tourist visa.