Swift, definitive assistance



By Ma. Fe Nicodemus

As local television networks in the Philippines flash scenes of hundreds of Filipinos huddling in tents with their hungry children under the scorching desert sun in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, the whole nation was shocked.

Without money, our kababayans there scrambled for food, water, medicine and shelter. While pitching their cramp tents outside the Philippine consulate in the Saudi Arabian city, they tell their sad stories.

 All of them have either run from their abusive employers or expired residence and work permits. As if their ordeal was not enough, the Saudi government’s crackdown on all illegal workers had come, forcing them to run away to evade arrest and to seek refuge.

They ended up at the consulate’s premises, and from April 11 up to the present their number has risen to over a thousand. 

Our hearts overflowed with sympathy for them. Amid calls by concerned people, the Philippine government has taken efforts to give food, water and other basic necessities. It even vowed to do whatever it can to be of help –immediate repatriation is one option.
It also promised to provide temporary shelter, but not all-at-once for all the over 1,000 distressed workers camping out at the consulate –the reason, limited resources.

 Despite the government’s efforts to be of help, there is one scenario I am most afraid of –the state’s assistance might not be swift and definitive.

In its statements, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has never failed to emphasize that the distressed campers are “undocumented workers” or “illegal aliens.”

One of the implications is: no resources would be readily available to solve the crisis. All the campers are presently non-OWWA members. There is no mechanism for succor and the needed assistance might not be coming on time.

But time is of the essence. The Philippine government only has three months to accomplish the KSA’s July 4 deadline, and as it lapses, the temporary reprieve on the crackdown would be lifted, even as the Saudi government clearly said there will be no mercy by then.
Meanwhile, the DFA said the government is negotiating for a KSA waiver on some stringent processes and document needed to release the OFW campers.

Departure procedures are tedious as fines would have to be paid and exit documents must be secured before the illegal workers are granted permission by Saudi authorities to leave.
Repatriation in the Middle East, particularly in Saudi takes time. Obtaining a certificate of no-objection from the undocumented worker's former employer — a pre-requisite for an exit visa — is a difficult and complicated process. http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/304500/pinoyabroad/news/from-nitaqat-to-tent-city-a-look-into-the-saudi-crackdown-on-illegal-workers
The situation of the campers is difficult and needs swift action from the government.
There is high possibility that the misfortune of the Jeddah campers would befall other OFWs elsewhere, especially the household workers, which is among the majority groups in the Middle East and other host countries.
At this point, I would like to appeal to the government to initiate proactive efforts to make sure that the rights and welfare of the overseas Filipino household workers are protected.
The Philippines ratified the ILO Convention 189 on Decent Work for Domestic Workers in 2012. http://ph.news.yahoo.com/ratification-ilo-convention-189-085156942.html
The Senate ratification means that over two million Filipino domestic workers as well as over 300,000 seafarers here and abroad have been recognized as part of the formal labor sector.
By virtue of this, the Philippine government has joined global efforts to promote decent work for them.

This protection covers better pay, safe and healthy working conditions, and other benefits.

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