More seminars, stricter guidelines sought to reduce cases of abused OFWs

Recruiters of Filipino domestic helpers have appealed for additional pre-departure seminars and stricter guidelines for employment agencies to prevent the abuse of overseas Filipino workers.

The group Coalition of Licensed Agencies For Domestic And Service Workers (CLADS) made the appeal following the recent scalding of a Filipina domestic worker in Saudi Arabia by her employer.

In a report on GMA News TV’s “Balitanghali” on Tuesday, CLADS president Madolyn Uanang said these seminars will allow workers to remember what they need to do in case of emergency.

“Yung mga topic na dini-discuss nila dito is about protection—kung anong gagawin ng mga OFW, sinong lalapitan nila,” she said.

Furthermore, she said placement agencies which do not assist the workers they deploy must be banned.

However, the report said the agencies’ counterparts abroad, supposedly the protectors of OFWs once they are deployed, are sometimes remiss in their duties.

Labor pacts

Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Administrator Carmelita Dimzon said bilateral labor agreements between countries are slowly decreasing the number of abused employers.

Under the bilateral agreements, some migrant rights include:

– An employer cannot confiscate a worker’s phone or passport;
– Physical and other forms of abuse cannot be inflicted upon OFWs;
– A worker’s salary must be what the local law dictates

Despite this, she admitted existing bureaucracies in host countries allow the occurrence of abuses.

“Hindi ka basta papasok ‘dun, wala kang pahintulot. Kung gusto man mag-rescue ng ating officer… hindi siya basta makakapasok. Otherwise, pwede siyang i-demanda,” said Dimzon in the same report.

Uanang has offered CLADS’ services to Filipino domestic workers abroad should they require assistance during an emergency situation.

“Meron kaming counterpart na verified ng Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO). Itong mga counterpart namin ang nagbibigay ng immediate action doon sa job site,” she explained.

She continued, “If we cannot get a positive action with our foreign placement agency, sa POLO kami lumalapit. If necessary, kami mismo yung puputa sa job site.” —Rie Takumi/KBK, GMA News