KAKAMMPI News

Amid persistent reports of "premature" terminations in Saudi Arabia, Philippine officials there advised overseas Filipino workers in the Kingdom to report terminations "without valid cause" to the Philippine Embassy. The Embassy particularly urged OFWs who receive questionable termination notices to get in touch with the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) nearest their place of work (Riyadh, Jeddah and al-Khobar). "Amid persistent reports on the termination of Filipino workers in Saudi Arabia, Filipino workers who receive termination notices from their employers or who have been terminated without valid cause are advised to get in touch with the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) nearest their place of work (Riyadh, Jeddah and al-Khobar). POLO officers will provide the necessary assistance to the complainants," the Embassy said in an advisory posted on its website. The embassy also urged the Filipino community to regularly visit the Philippine Em...

JEREMAIAH M. OPINIANO, OFW Journalism Consortium An OFW Journalism Consortium news flash exclusive MANILA—THE Philippine embassy in Baghdad said Filipino workers are not affected by the plan of the Iraqi government to deport illegal foreign workers. This is even if 2009 stock estimates on overseas Filipinos by the Commission on Filipinos Overseas show that there an estimated 2,800 irregular Filipino workers in Iraq. Filipino volunteers in Baghdad told the embassy that the ruling to deport illegal foreign workers does not include Filipino workers in American military facilities there. Attache Donnie Fetalino told the OFW Journalism Consortium that the overseas Filipino workers in Iraq are “in their duty stations carry badges with them which is respected by Iraqi authorities". “This is the reason why OFWs were not included in the news," Fetalino said. News about the deportation of illegal foreign workers in Iraq was reported in the Himalayan Times newspaper of Nepal, which sai...

Filipino migrant workers in Saudi Arabia who get terminated from their jobs without a valid cause should get in touch with the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Monday. In a statement amid “persistent" reports on the termination of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Saudi Arabia, the DFA said OFWs may ask for the embassy’s assistance through the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) that is closest to their place of work. Located in Riyadh, Jeddah, and al-Khobar, POLO offices will assist affected OFWs, the DFA said. The agency also advised OFWs in the Kingdom to regularly visit the Philippine Embassy website for updates on the Nitaqat or “Saudization" system, which prioritizes the employment of Saudi nationals over foreign workers in Saudi-owned firms. The Saudi government is scheduled to begin implementing the Nitaqat system next Sept. 11, and companies that fail to comply with the Saudization targets will get a grace period of six...

WILLIAM ALZONA, OFW Journalism Consortium Technology giant Ericsson is testing its money service facility after it included the Philippines in the countries that can receive funds from seven countries in Europe. Adam Kerr, Ericsson Mobile Money representative, said the company has partnered with Globe Telecom Inc. and Smart Communications Inc. to allow overseas Filipinos in seven European countries to send money back home. Globe will use its GCash service, while Smart will utilize its Smart Money platform. The said launch was made late last week in time for the Barrio Fiesta sa London event over the weekend. “It will be a person to person money service," Kerr said in a telephone interview. Since the service was relatively new, Kerr said that it only allows Filipinos in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Poland and Sweden to send money to the Philippines. The service, however, does not allow sending money from the Philippines to these seven countries, Kerr said. Un...

The International Labor Organization (ILO) is on track to pass next year a treaty that will allow nearly 100 million workers around the world to enjoy social insurance programs, Social Watch Philippines said Friday. In a statement, Social Watch quoted the United Nations’ ILO as saying 80 percent of workers all over the world have no access to social security — a social insurance program that provides protection against poverty, old age, disability, and unemployment, among others. “I believe [social insurance programs] are building blocks for social justice… I invite you all to mobilize around. Your support is invaluable," ILO director-general Juan Somavia told participants of the ongoing 5th Social Watch Global Assembly in Manila. Social Watch is a network of citizens’ organizations struggling to eradicate poverty and causes of poverty, and to ensure an equitable distribution of wealth and realization of human rights. Decent work for domestic workers Somavia also lauded Social Wat...

JEREMAIAH M. OPINIANO, OFW Journalism Consortium An OFW Journalism Consortium news flash exclusive MANILA—THE Philippine embassy in Baghdad said Filipino workers are not affected by the plan of the Iraqi government to deport illegal foreign workers. This is even if 2009 stock estimates on overseas Filipinos by the Commission on Filipinos Overseas show that there an estimated 2,800 irregular Filipino workers in Iraq. Filipino volunteers in Baghdad told the embassy that the ruling to deport illegal foreign workers does not include Filipino workers in American military facilities there. Attache Donnie Fetalino told the OFW Journalism Consortium that the overseas Filipino workers in Iraq are “in their duty stations carry badges with them which is respected by Iraqi authorities". “This is the reason why OFWs were not included in the news," Fetalino said. News about the deportation of illegal foreign workers in Iraq was reported in the Himalayan Times newspaper of Nepal, which sai...

The Philippine Embassy in Riyadh is assisting and providing legal assistance to the pregnant Filipina who was allegedly raped by three Saudi men in Dammam. In a report to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the Embassy said its representatives went to the Genobiya Police to assist the Filipina and check on her condition. The Filipina, who hails from Bulacan, was reportedly walking on her way back to her residence from a check-up at the General Case Hospital in Dammam on July 7 when a car stopped and the driver asked if she works for a certain company. Thinking that it was her car service, she rode the car but was surprised to see that there was another man seated at the back. The driver reportedly brought her to an isolated area where she was raped. The Filipina was also robbed of her mobile phone and money, the embassy reported. After being raped, the Filipina was dropped near the Carrefour Mall where she asked other Filipinos for help. The Embassy received a report that the perp...