DOLE: 10 maltreated Pinoys in UAE sue recruiters




At least 10 overseas Filipino workers allegedly maltreated in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are pursuing charges against their recruiters, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said on Wednesday.

The DOLE said the cases were lodged before the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration's (POEA) Docket and Enforcement Division.

“The 10 OFWs who filed the cases were among 20 migrant workers who ran away from abusive employers in the United Arab Emirates and were earlier repatriated to the Philippines,” DOLE Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said.

Citing a report from POEA head Hans Leo Cacdac, the DOLE said the POEA has provided lawyers to help the OFWs pursue their cases.

The DOLE identified the 10 OFWs and their recruiters as:

1. Nerissa Molleda (Futuristic International; Cyber Manpower)
2. Maria Malaya Padilla (Noveau Riche International; Al Mashel Agency)
3. Diana Lou Publico (Marhaba Recruitment Agency; Golden Tower Engineering Consultant)
4. Angela Uyammi (Dalandanan Manpower; Al Alammi Labour Recruitment/Ramil Amohtasib)
5. Clarence Viscarra (CXM International Recruitment Services, Inc.; Expert Human Resource Consultancy Recruitment, et al)
6. Mary Chell Afable (Sky Resources Manpower; Ras Al Khaimah) 7. Lariza Arceo (Konnexion Manpower; Mohammed Naveed Nahrula Siddqi/Dar Almadina)
8. Janet Bentero (Greenworld Agency; Rashi Mohammed Ali Salim Alkhaya)
9. Jonnalyn Belmosao (Dalandan International, et al; Al Amani Labour Recruitment/Royal Emirates Supermarket LLC/Fahad)
10. Maida Esmael (Shames Al Sobeh/Madam Rashia).

Cacdac said in Esmael's case against Al Sobeh/Madam Rashia, their investigation showed the recruiter had no POEA license and record of deployment.

He added two other recruiters had already been under documentary suspension by the POEA: Futuristic International, suspended since November 19, 2011; and Noveau Riche, suspended since July 30, 2012, due to an earlier docketed case.

“The POEA is subjecting the ten cases to judicious investigation process,” Cacdac said.

Earlier, Labor Attache to Dubai Delmer Cruz confirmed the repatriation to the country of the 20 maltreated OFWs.

Cacdac said they continue to warn OFWs against falling prey to illegal recruiters and to immediately report any sign or suspicion of illegal recruitment activity to the POEA.

"For POEA’s licensed recruiters, the requirement is religious observance of all regulations to ensure the protection and welfare of all OFWs, otherwise heavy sanctions would be imposed including revocation of license and banning from engaging in overseas recruitment. For those previously licensed, but suspended or canceled recruiters, continuing to recruit workers is blatant defiance of the law and crime,” he said.

The investigation also showed most of the abused OFWs were illegally recruited women workers who risked going abroad as tourists and ending up abused and maltreated.

Reminder to labor attaches

Meanwhile, Baldoz reminded the DOLE’s labor attaches in 38 Philippine Overseas Labor Offices (POLOs) of her earlier directive to prevent or preempt such illegal recruitment activities in coordination with Philippine missions abroad and the POEA.

Baldoz, who is POEA chairperson, said POLOs have been empowered to cancel the accreditation of any employer found violating the rules on the hiring and deployment of OFWs without having to go back to the POEA in the Philippines.

“You must help actively in dissuading vulnerable Filipinos from working abroad as undocumented workers where the risk of being lured into dangerous jobs, subhuman conditions of work, and sometimes, death, is higher,” she said. - VVP, GMA News

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