30 more OFWs in Libya run away from employer

MANILA, Philippines - An alliance of overseas Filipino workers’ organizations in the Middle East said Monday that aside from the 50 another 30 OFWs have run away from their employer in Libya over alleged continued labor malpractices, including forcing them to sign new “contract".

“We were informed by three OFWs who are part of an estimated 30 who recently ran away from their employer M/s. CIFEX World, Inc. They decided to run away... due to the (company’s) continued violations of their original employment contract and labor malpractices," said John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator.

Last month, 50 OFWs ran away due to the same labor contract violations and substitution committed by their employer M/s. CIFEX World.

Citing the three OFWs’ manifestation, Monterona said the workers were forced to sign by their employer a new contract with different provisions contradicting the original ones which they signed in the Philippines, specifically the provision on their monthly salary and working hours and overtime pay.

Monterona said Ryan Villamor, Allan Aringgo, Aldrin Alama and 27 OFW-companions are now at the Philippine Overseas Labor Ofice-Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (POLO-OWWA) offices in Libya.

“The 3 (three) representing the 30 OFWs have sought Migrante’s assistance in a text message sent to their companion Ruel Ramos, who has been repatriated few weeks back along with other three OFW-companions Robert Tulop, Nestor Rivera, and Henry Torres- all were illegally terminated and were sent back home immediately without observing the ‘two-months’ termination notice as stipulated on their signed employment contract," Monterona added.

He said illegally-terminated OFWs working with M/s. CIFEX World in Libya - Ruel Ramos, Robert Tulop, Nestor Rivera, and Henry Torres along with Migrante International staff - had asked Gabriela Women’s Party Representative Luzviminda Ilagan to push for an inquiry into their plight.

On April 2, Rep. Luzviminda Ilagan introduced House Resolution No. 1081 asking the House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs (COWA) to conduct an inquiry into the plight of 50 OFWs.

“More OFWs will be forced to run away from their employers and thousands will be seeking refuge to POLO-OWWA offices in the Middle East because under the (President) Arroyo regime OFWs’ rights and welfare is not given due priority and importance; it’s bilateral labor agreements with receiving host governments are only an adjunct to Arroyo's intensified exportation and commoditization of labor that undermines the importance of genuine welfare and rights protection mechanism for OFWs and their families," Monterona said. - D'Jay Lazaro, GMANews.TV

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