OWWA repatriates 30 runaway OFWs from Syria

MANILA – Around 30 overseas Filipino workers employed as household service workers arrived home from Damascus, Syria.

Administrator Carmelita Dimzon of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) said workers sought refuge at the Philippine Embassy in Damascus after running away from their employers due to non payment of wages, long working hours and abuse.

“Ito yung mga workers na nag-runaway sa kanilang mga employers reportedly because of abuse, hindi sila binabayaran ng sweldo nila o mahaba yung working hours nila kaya desidido silang umalis na lang sa kanilang employers at nag seek ng shelter sa ating Philippine Embassy sa Damascus doon sa atin Filipino Workers Resource Center.

The workers, all Filipino women, were brought to the OWWA shelter for debriefing sessions and medical check-ups.

“Mayroon tayong mga counseling para naman makatulong din yun dahil sila ay nag runaway sa mga employers nila, may mga hindi magagandang experience na nangyari kaya kailangan natin muna silang bigyan ng debriefing na tinatawag,” Dimzon said.

Dimzon attributed the immediate repatriation of the workers to President Arroyo who visited Syria recently.

“Nang bumisita nga ang ating Pangulo doon nakita niya ang estado ng ating mga workers kaya gumawa siya ng paraan para makausap niya yung government ng Syria para mapabilis yung pagpapauwi ng mga stranded workers doon sa embassy,” she said.

OWWA shouldered the repatriation of the workers. It will process the workers individually to find out their particular needs.

Dimzon revealed that there other workers who are still at the Filipino Workers Resource Center in Damascus awaiting their exit visas.

“Mayroon pang naiwan doon kasi inaayos pa ang exit visa nila. Tingin namin in the next few days mayroon pa tayong papauwiin kasi nga yung,” she said. –abs-cbnNEWS.com