DOLE: Placement agency faces suspension over abused OFW in HK
A placement agency faces suspension after an overseas Filipino worker it deployed to Hong Kong suffered several abuses at the hands of her employer.
The Department of Labor and Employment said this as its agencies reassured the OFW, Rowena Uychiat, of assistance to her and her family in the Philippines.
DOLE Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz assured Uychiat's family the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration and the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Hong Kong will help her file a complaint against NAR Training and Management Service for making Uychiat pay P45,000 in placement fee.
Baldoz also directed the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration to file a case against a certain Joy of NAR Training and Management Service for deducting P5,000 from the loan proceeds allegedly as processing fee.
On the other hand, the DOLE is also eyeing actions against Nittan Capital Finance Inc., where Uychiat contracted a P50,000 loan to pay the placement fee.
Earlier, Philippine Labor Attache to Hong Kong Manuel Roldan said the POLO has blacklisted Uychiat's employer, Yui Anna Hoi Yin.
"This means Yui Anna Hoi Yin cannot hire another worker unless police investigation shows otherwise. The POLO will not process any contract document which the employer will present as a pre-requisite to visa issuance," Roldan said.
Uychiat, a widow, has a 19-year old daughter Justine, who is taking up criminology at Bago City College. She also has a 13-year old son, Ryan.
Reaching out
Roldan said the POLO has met with Uychiat to discuss the abuse she suffered from her Hong Kong employer.
On the other hand, welfare officer Kris Furaque, Vice Consul Charles Andrei Macaspac and Assistance-to-Nationals Officer Hermogenes Cayabyab met with Uychiat last May 11 at the Office of the Mission for Migrant Workers Ltd. (MFMW) to obtain more information about her plight.
MFMW is the charitable organization sheltering Uychiat.
Uychiat narrated she had been working for Yiu Anna Hoi Yin since July 23, 2013 without any rest day and statutory holidays, with her employer promising to pay her these days.
She said her employer confiscated her Hong Kong identity card, passport, and employment contract.
"I was made to work for long hours which resulted in my taking my meals late, and I was made to sleep in the kitchen," she said.
Also, she said her employer physically assaulted her for three months after she started working for her.
A fellow OFW who saw her bruise briefed her on how to call 999, Hongkong’s emergency number. When Uychiat called, her employer grabbed her mobile phone and twisted her left ear upon reaching home.
Last February, Uychiat said her female employer slapped her, then pushed her until she fell on the floor, and kicked her in the ribs, because she forgot to change her clothes.
Uychiat dared not file a police report out of fear of being arrested since she does not have her Hongkong ID. This was also why she could not see a doctor.
Last April 25, while her employer and family were in Macau, Uychiat went to the Sham Shui Po Police Station, accompanied by a distant relative Liezl Mateo.
The police then arranged for her to see a doctor at the Caritas Medical Center.
On May 1, Uychiat got back her passport and employment contract from Gracious Employment Agency Ltd., the foreign recruitment agency (FRA) that deployed her to Hong Kong.
Roldan also said Furaque advised Uychiat to pursue the suspension of Gracious Employment Agency Ltd. by bringing the matter before the POLO.
“We are also conducting an investigation on the alleged withholding of Uychiat’s passport by the Hong Kong agency. We will submit other information and further developments on the case as soon as possible,” Roldan said.
Meet with family
In the Philippines, Overseas Workers’ Welfare Administration head Carmelita Dimzon said its regional welfare office in Western Visayas met with Uychiat's family in Cadiz City.
"Our welfare officer in Bacolod advised Justine to contact the OWWA Regional Welfare Office in the event her mother communicates any problem she might be having," Dimzon said.
Meanwhile, Roldan said Uychiat had requested POLO-Hong Kong’s assistance for loan and livelihood for her mother and for her children's education in the Philippines.
"She also asked for help for the suspension of Gracious Employment Agency Ltd.’s accreditation as an FRA; for refund of her placement fee; and for assistance on her incidental expenses, such as the cost of visa extension which amounted to HK$160 (P899.94)," said Roldan.
Furaque told Uychiat she can avail of the "Balik Pinay-Balik Hanapbuhay” livelihood assistance of the National Reintegration Center for OFWs (NRCO) after she returns home.
She also informed her that her 19-year-old daughter can avail of the OWWA’s Skills for Employment Scholarship Program (SESP), while her 13-year old son will be included on the list of Tuloy Aral Program beneficiaries.
"Upon request and proper documentation, we will give her HK$160 for the cost of her visa extension," Baldoz said. — Joel Locsin /LBG, GMA News
The Department of Labor and Employment said this as its agencies reassured the OFW, Rowena Uychiat, of assistance to her and her family in the Philippines.
DOLE Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz assured Uychiat's family the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration and the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Hong Kong will help her file a complaint against NAR Training and Management Service for making Uychiat pay P45,000 in placement fee.
Baldoz also directed the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration to file a case against a certain Joy of NAR Training and Management Service for deducting P5,000 from the loan proceeds allegedly as processing fee.
On the other hand, the DOLE is also eyeing actions against Nittan Capital Finance Inc., where Uychiat contracted a P50,000 loan to pay the placement fee.
Earlier, Philippine Labor Attache to Hong Kong Manuel Roldan said the POLO has blacklisted Uychiat's employer, Yui Anna Hoi Yin.
"This means Yui Anna Hoi Yin cannot hire another worker unless police investigation shows otherwise. The POLO will not process any contract document which the employer will present as a pre-requisite to visa issuance," Roldan said.
Uychiat, a widow, has a 19-year old daughter Justine, who is taking up criminology at Bago City College. She also has a 13-year old son, Ryan.
Reaching out
Roldan said the POLO has met with Uychiat to discuss the abuse she suffered from her Hong Kong employer.
On the other hand, welfare officer Kris Furaque, Vice Consul Charles Andrei Macaspac and Assistance-to-Nationals Officer Hermogenes Cayabyab met with Uychiat last May 11 at the Office of the Mission for Migrant Workers Ltd. (MFMW) to obtain more information about her plight.
MFMW is the charitable organization sheltering Uychiat.
Uychiat narrated she had been working for Yiu Anna Hoi Yin since July 23, 2013 without any rest day and statutory holidays, with her employer promising to pay her these days.
She said her employer confiscated her Hong Kong identity card, passport, and employment contract.
"I was made to work for long hours which resulted in my taking my meals late, and I was made to sleep in the kitchen," she said.
Also, she said her employer physically assaulted her for three months after she started working for her.
A fellow OFW who saw her bruise briefed her on how to call 999, Hongkong’s emergency number. When Uychiat called, her employer grabbed her mobile phone and twisted her left ear upon reaching home.
Last February, Uychiat said her female employer slapped her, then pushed her until she fell on the floor, and kicked her in the ribs, because she forgot to change her clothes.
Uychiat dared not file a police report out of fear of being arrested since she does not have her Hongkong ID. This was also why she could not see a doctor.
Last April 25, while her employer and family were in Macau, Uychiat went to the Sham Shui Po Police Station, accompanied by a distant relative Liezl Mateo.
The police then arranged for her to see a doctor at the Caritas Medical Center.
On May 1, Uychiat got back her passport and employment contract from Gracious Employment Agency Ltd., the foreign recruitment agency (FRA) that deployed her to Hong Kong.
Roldan also said Furaque advised Uychiat to pursue the suspension of Gracious Employment Agency Ltd. by bringing the matter before the POLO.
“We are also conducting an investigation on the alleged withholding of Uychiat’s passport by the Hong Kong agency. We will submit other information and further developments on the case as soon as possible,” Roldan said.
Meet with family
In the Philippines, Overseas Workers’ Welfare Administration head Carmelita Dimzon said its regional welfare office in Western Visayas met with Uychiat's family in Cadiz City.
"Our welfare officer in Bacolod advised Justine to contact the OWWA Regional Welfare Office in the event her mother communicates any problem she might be having," Dimzon said.
Meanwhile, Roldan said Uychiat had requested POLO-Hong Kong’s assistance for loan and livelihood for her mother and for her children's education in the Philippines.
"She also asked for help for the suspension of Gracious Employment Agency Ltd.’s accreditation as an FRA; for refund of her placement fee; and for assistance on her incidental expenses, such as the cost of visa extension which amounted to HK$160 (P899.94)," said Roldan.
Furaque told Uychiat she can avail of the "Balik Pinay-Balik Hanapbuhay” livelihood assistance of the National Reintegration Center for OFWs (NRCO) after she returns home.
She also informed her that her 19-year-old daughter can avail of the OWWA’s Skills for Employment Scholarship Program (SESP), while her 13-year old son will be included on the list of Tuloy Aral Program beneficiaries.
"Upon request and proper documentation, we will give her HK$160 for the cost of her visa extension," Baldoz said. — Joel Locsin /LBG, GMA News
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