OFW in Saudi Arabia seeks help from migrants’ group

MANILA – A 28-year-old Filipino household service worker in Saudi Arabia has sought the help of a Filipino migrants group reportedly for fear of being located by an alleged abusive employer whom she ran away from.

“Anna”, not her real name, reportedly called up Migrante-Al Khobar chapter and had requested for assistance.

“OFW Anna from Calumpang, Marikina, called our Migrante-Al Khobar chapter case officer about her dilemma under her abusive employer who has been abusing her for three months,” said John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator, in a statement.

Monterona said Anna worked as a domestic helper in Al Khobar, in the eastern part of Saudi Arabia.

“She confessed that she was first abused by her employer three weeks after she arrived and worked as a household worker for the latter, until she managed to run away from her employer last February 2009 with the help of newly found fellow OFW friends,” Monterona said.

Monterona said Anna was deployed by B&E Manpower Services located in Pedro Gil, Manila in December of 2008. The OFW is reported to be currently staying with a friend after she ran away from her employer. However, she purportedly fears that her employer would soon find her and send her to jail.

“After documentation, Migrante-Al Khobar will be properly endorsing her case to the Philippine Embassy-Assistance to National Sections for their action and provide the needed assistance to OFW rape victim Anna,” Monterona said.

Monterona, however, lamented the alleged attitude of some personnel of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) towards the distressed OFW.

“OFW Anna told us that a Philippine Overseas Labor Official and a staff scolded her for asking help from Migrante, and for not trusting them saying to her ‘it’s all up to her now’. But it should not be like that, the POLO or RP consular office in the Eastern Region should give her all the support and assistance,” he said. –abs-cbnNEWS.com