Demafelis’ case exposes lingering problems with gov’t response to OFWs —advocate



The case of Joanna Demafelis, the slain Filipino worker whose body was found inside a freezer in an apartment in Kuwait, had exposed flaws in government responses to issues involving OFWs, a migrant advocate said.
Center for Migrant Advocacy Executive Director Ellene Sana criticized the way complaints are handled as OFWs who may not have a second chance to plead their case are forced to repeatedly call to get results.
"Baka nga hindi na siya makatawag, mabuti nga nakatawag siya ng isang beses. You don't react that way, that you take your time," Sana said in an episode of Reporter's Notebook.
"Treat it with a sense of urgency," she appealed.
The episode noted the many trips Demafelis' family had to make to get any response to their request to check on her status.
The show also pointed out the responsibility of recruitment firms in ensuring the protection of the OFWs they deploy.
POEA Director Hans Leo Cacdac said it is enshrined in law that recruitment agencies have a responsibility over their deployed workers, especially in the first six months as it is within this time period that most OFW deaths occur.
"Ang role ng recruitment agency, hindi natatapos kapag kumabig na siya nung pera niya o kita niya, sa pagde-deploy dun sa worker na 'yun," Cacdac said.
Data from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration shows that at least 196 Filipino migrant workers died in Kuwait, 20 of whom were lost to suicide or murder, while 4,500 cases of abuse was recorded since 2016.
POEA has since then recalled a labor officer and a labor attache who supposedly handled the Demafelis family's requests, but Sana believes more should be done to protect OFWs.
"May hustisya dapat doon, may mananagot dapat diyan," she said.
The Department of Labor and Employment, in addition to enforcing a deployment ban for first-time OFWs or OFWs who changed employers to Kuwait, is in the process of negotiating an memorandum of understanding with Kuwait to better the rights of migrant workers. —Rie Takumi/KBK, GMA News

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