KAKAMMPI News

The Philippine Embassy in Riyadh warned Filipino workers in Saudi Arabia to be wary of compatriots who are pretending to be in need of assistance but are actually working with local immigration officials. In a release, the Embassy said a Filipino worker fell for the scheme two weeks ago, after coming to the aid of an OFW who claimed she needed to be “rescued". The Embassy said according to the victim’s narration, a Filipina called him and asked that she be brought to the Embassy or the Philippine Overseas Labor Office. The Embassy said that even as the Kingdom prohibits people from taking into their custody those workers who escaped their employers, the victim still agreed to assist the “distressed" Filipina. The victim first brought the Filipina to his residence. It turned out, according to the Embassy, that they were followed by immigration authorities, who stormed the victim’s house and demanded for his immigration documents as well as those of the others living with him. ...

Children of Filipino migrant workers stand to benefit from a pilot high school subsidy scheme by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA). The subsidy scheme, which also aims to benefit other disadvantaged youth, was ushered in this September by the IOM, which describes itself as “an intergovernmental organization … committed to the principle that humane and orderly migration benefits migrants and society." “The pilot secondary education subsidy aims to keep up to 250 children in secondary school over the next two school years, who would have otherwise dropped out or not enrolled for financial reasons," IOM said on its website Saturday. Initially targeted by the scheme are participating public high schools in Masbate, Antique, Agusan del Sur and Maguindanao. Beneficiaries will get a monthly allowance of P1,000 for transport, food and other expenses, and P500 for school-related fees. The subsidy scheme is part of...

Children of Filipino migrant workers stand to benefit from a pilot high school subsidy scheme by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA). The subsidy scheme, which also aims to benefit other disadvantaged youth, was ushered in this September by the IOM, which describes itself as “an intergovernmental organization … committed to the principle that humane and orderly migration benefits migrants and society." “The pilot secondary education subsidy aims to keep up to 250 children in secondary school over the next two school years, who would have otherwise dropped out or not enrolled for financial reasons," IOM said on its website Saturday. Initially targeted by the scheme are participating public high schools in Masbate, Antique, Agusan del Sur and Maguindanao. Beneficiaries will get a monthly allowance of P1,000 for transport, food and other expenses, and P500 for school-related fees. The subsidy scheme is part of...

A Filipina domestic in Saudi Arabia has accused her employer of inflicting flat iron burns on her. In GMA News’ “24 Oras" report, the 18-year-old overseas Filipino worker (OFW) identified only as Ranya said her employer did not like the way she ironed clothes and so burned her arms with a hot flat iron. Ranya said she had entered Saudi Arabia just recently as an overseas worker, but had no choice but to escape from her employer and file a complaint before the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Jeddah. POLO officials in turn filed charges against the employer, who subsequently denied the accusation, claiming that Ranya inflicted the burns herself. Local Saudi police had also urged Ranya to admit that the injury was self-inflicted, the report added. POLO officials meanwhile vowed to follow upon Ranya’s complaint.—Jerrie M. Abella/JV, GMANews.TV A Filipina domestic in Saudi Arabia has accused her employer of inflicting flat iron burns on her. In GMA News’ “24 Oras" repor...

Filipinos seeking jobs in Malaysia should beware of an online recruitment scam, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said Friday. DOLE Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said the scam involves a supposed "email" from the Malaysian immigration department seeking visa processing fees. “Such notices are a hoax and prospective workers for Malaysia should be very wary about answering these hoax emails," Baldoz warned, citing a report from the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Kuala Lumpur. Baldoz said the email claims to be a notice from the immigration authority, informing a prospective applicant of a pending appointment letter from a certain "Mobil Oil Company." The email then allegedly requests for the processing of the applicant’s documents — and a processing fee. Labor attaché to Kuala Lumpur Hassan Gabra Jumdain cited a sample email received by a prospective applicant, with the email seeking processing fees for a visa or residence work permit. Such f...

Dubai-based Prime Medical Center is providing free medical check-up and consultation to Filipinos in three of its branches every Friday during the month-long Ramadan, according to a report. The free consultation will be held from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at its branch located adjacent to the BurJuman Metro station along the Trade Center Road towards Creekside in Bur Dubai on August 20; on Salahuddin Road opposite Reef Mall in Deira on August 27; and at Jumeirah Plaza along Beach Road in Jumeirah on September 3, according to a report in Khaleej Times. Dr Jamil Ahmed, Prime Healthcare Group director, said the free medical consultation is part of the company’s community outreach initiative. Filipina medical practitioner Dr. Daffodils Guevarra will be available for consultation to visitors, who will undergo blood pressure measurement and blood sugar check. The article noted that Guevarra, a specialist in
rehabilitation medicine, has experience in general medical cases like hypertension, diabetes, ...

Around 800 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) remain stranded in Jeddah despite government efforts to repatriate them, according to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA). OWWA administrator Carmelita Dimzon said these OFWs are waiting to be cleared by their foreign employers before they can return to the Philippines. “The 800 remaining OFWs in the Jeddah center could be growing again as more runaways and unregistered OFWs from outside Jeddah seek sanctuary," she said in a statement posted on the agency’s website. Dimzon vowed to send home all Filipinos sheltered in various Philippine welfare centers overseas. She said the agency has shouldered the repatriation of 466 OFWs and their children from Jeddah in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait from June 27 to August 9 this year. Nonstop repatriation “The repatriation of distressed overseas Filipino workers and children in Filipino Workers Welfare Centers abroad will continue until all are flown home under the accelerated repatriation ...