7 female OFWs return to RP with tales of abuse
MARK MERUEñAS, GMANews.TV
Email this | Email the Editor | Print | Digg this | Add to del.icio.us (Updated) MANILA, Philippines - Seven overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) stranded in the United Arab Emirates were flown back to the Philippines on Thursday, telling stories of abuse from their employers.
A radio report said that the all-female group of repatriates arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) from Abu Dhabi on Thursday afternoon via Etihad Airways at about 2:40 p.m.
The seven OFWs who returned home in the country were Lea Malunes, 27, of Camarines Sur; Salama Bakal, 28, of Cotabato City; Bernadette Romero, 38, of Cavite; Luciana Lunar, 44, of Batangas; Fennie Tiletile, 48, of Tagum City; Mesa Palares; and Loyda Adlawa, from Pangasinan whose age is unknown.
The radio report quoted the repatriated women as saying their employers subjected them under harsh working conditions – including being overworked, maltreated, and deprived of regular meals.
“Pinalo ako sa likod tapos sabi ko isugod ako sa ospital kasi sumusuka ako ng dugo. Sabi niya, buti nga mamatay ka na. Buti nga sabi niya mamatay ka na (My employer hit me in the back. I told my employer to rush me to the hospital because I was coughing up blood. My employer only said, ‘It’s better that you die’)," one of them said immediately after disembarking from their plane.
Bakal recounted how even her employers’ children would beat her up, saying “Mahirap kasi ang dami ng anak ng amo ko, ang lalaki at salbahe po (It was difficult because my employer has many children. They were all big and abusive)."
“Sinaktan po kami. Pinipilit kaming magtrabaho kahit ayaw na naming magtrabaho kasi nga nananakit po iyong aming mga amo (We were battered. They forced us to work even if we refused to because they would only hurt us)," Adlawa, for her part, recalled.
One Filipino worker even said she had only been in the UAE for barely four months but could no longer withstand the heavy work load.
When she pleaded with her employer that she be returned to her recruitment agency, she was allegedly hammered with a hanger.
The women also asked the government to also assist the remaining Filipino workers in UAE, who are unable to escape since their passports are being withheld from them by their employers.
The seven OFWs were repatriated with the help from Senate President Manuel “Manny" Villar Jr, who shouldered the airplane tickets of the workers.
On Monday, nine stranded Filipino workers, including minors, were flown back to the Philippines almost one year after allegedly enduring abusive treatment from their employers in Jordan.
The overseas workers were also given financial assistance by the Senate President.
Villar has filed a Senate resolution demanding for a more comprehensive review of the implementation of labor recruitment and immigration laws in the country.
He also said in the interview that he would be pushing for an amendment of the Overseas Workers Welfare Authority charter, so that assistance will be given not only to OWWA members but also to those who are undocumented workers. - GMANews.TV
Email this | Email the Editor | Print | Digg this | Add to del.icio.us (Updated) MANILA, Philippines - Seven overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) stranded in the United Arab Emirates were flown back to the Philippines on Thursday, telling stories of abuse from their employers.
A radio report said that the all-female group of repatriates arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) from Abu Dhabi on Thursday afternoon via Etihad Airways at about 2:40 p.m.
The seven OFWs who returned home in the country were Lea Malunes, 27, of Camarines Sur; Salama Bakal, 28, of Cotabato City; Bernadette Romero, 38, of Cavite; Luciana Lunar, 44, of Batangas; Fennie Tiletile, 48, of Tagum City; Mesa Palares; and Loyda Adlawa, from Pangasinan whose age is unknown.
The radio report quoted the repatriated women as saying their employers subjected them under harsh working conditions – including being overworked, maltreated, and deprived of regular meals.
“Pinalo ako sa likod tapos sabi ko isugod ako sa ospital kasi sumusuka ako ng dugo. Sabi niya, buti nga mamatay ka na. Buti nga sabi niya mamatay ka na (My employer hit me in the back. I told my employer to rush me to the hospital because I was coughing up blood. My employer only said, ‘It’s better that you die’)," one of them said immediately after disembarking from their plane.
Bakal recounted how even her employers’ children would beat her up, saying “Mahirap kasi ang dami ng anak ng amo ko, ang lalaki at salbahe po (It was difficult because my employer has many children. They were all big and abusive)."
“Sinaktan po kami. Pinipilit kaming magtrabaho kahit ayaw na naming magtrabaho kasi nga nananakit po iyong aming mga amo (We were battered. They forced us to work even if we refused to because they would only hurt us)," Adlawa, for her part, recalled.
One Filipino worker even said she had only been in the UAE for barely four months but could no longer withstand the heavy work load.
When she pleaded with her employer that she be returned to her recruitment agency, she was allegedly hammered with a hanger.
The women also asked the government to also assist the remaining Filipino workers in UAE, who are unable to escape since their passports are being withheld from them by their employers.
The seven OFWs were repatriated with the help from Senate President Manuel “Manny" Villar Jr, who shouldered the airplane tickets of the workers.
On Monday, nine stranded Filipino workers, including minors, were flown back to the Philippines almost one year after allegedly enduring abusive treatment from their employers in Jordan.
The overseas workers were also given financial assistance by the Senate President.
Villar has filed a Senate resolution demanding for a more comprehensive review of the implementation of labor recruitment and immigration laws in the country.
He also said in the interview that he would be pushing for an amendment of the Overseas Workers Welfare Authority charter, so that assistance will be given not only to OWWA members but also to those who are undocumented workers. - GMANews.TV
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