A January 9, 2013, press release from the Department of Labor and Employment
The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration yesterday disclosed that ten maltreated overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have filed cases against their recruiters/principals following their repatriation to the Philippines.
In a report to Secretary of Labor and Employment Rosalinda D. Baldoz, Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) Administrator Hans Leo J. Cacdac said the cases have been filed before the (POEA’s) Docket and Enforcement Division, and said the agency has provided assisting lawyers to help the disadvantaged OFWs pursue their cases.
“The ten OFWs who filed the cases were among 20 migrant workers who ran away from abusive employers in the United Arab Emirates and were earlier repatriated to the Philippines,” Baldoz said.
The ten OFWs and their recruiters identified by the POEA chief are as follows:
Nerissa Molleda (Futuristic International; Cyber Manpower); Maria Malaya Padilla (Noveau Riche International; Al Mashel Agency); Diana Lou Publico (Marhaba Recruitment Agency; Golden Tower Engineering Consultant); Angela Uyammi (Dalandanan Manpower; Al Alammi Labour Recruitment/Ramil Amohtasib); Clarence Viscarra (CXM International Recruitment Services, Inc.; Expert Human Resource Consultancy Recruitment, et al); Mary Chell Afable (Sky Resources Manpower; Ras Al Khaimah); Lariza Arceo (Konnexion Manpower; Mohammed Naveed Nahrula Siddqi/Dar Almadina); Janet Bentero (Greenworld Agency; Rashi Mohammed Ali Salim Alkhaya); Jonnalyn Belmosao (Dalandan International, et al; Al Amani Labour Recruitment/Royal Emirates Supermarket LLC/Fahad); and, Maida Esmael (Shames Al Sobeh/Madam Rashia).
In his report, Cacdac said that on the case filed by OFW Esmael against Al Sobeh/Madam Rashia, investigation showed that the recruiter was without a POEA license and record of deployment. He added that two other recruiters had already been under documentary suspension by the POEA, namely, Futuristic International, suspended since November 19, 2011; and Noveau Riche, suspended since 30 July 2012 due to an earlier docketed case.
“The POEA is subjecting the ten cases to judicious investigation process,” Cacdac said.
Earlier, Labor Attache to Dubai Delmer Cruz confirmed the repatriation to the country of the 20 maltreated OFWs.
“We continue to stringently warn OFWs against falling prey to illegal recruiters and to immediately report any sign or suspicion of illegal recruitment activity to the POEA. For POEA’s licensed recruiters, the requirement is religious observance of all regulations to ensure the protection and welfare of all OFWs, otherwise heavy sanctions would be imposed including revocation of license and banning from engaging in overseas recruitment. For those previously licensed, but suspended or canceled recruiters, continuing to recruit workers is blatant defiance of the law and crime,” Cacdac said.
The majority of the abused OFWs were illegally recruited women workers who risked going abroad as tourists and ending up abused and maltreated.
Relative to this, Baldoz reminded the DOLE’s labor attaches in 38 Philippine Overseas Labor Offices (POLOs) of her earlier directive for them to go all out and prevent or preempt such illegal recruitment activities in coordination with Philippine Missions abroad and the POEA.
Baldoz, who sits as the POEA Chairman, emphasized that POLOs have been empowered to cancel the accreditation of any employer found violating the rules on the hiring and deployment of OFWs without having to go back to the POEA in the Philippines.
“You must help actively in dissuading vulnerable Filipinos from working abroad as undocumented workers where the risk of being lured into dangerous jobs, subhuman conditions of work, and sometimes, death, is higher,” Baldoz said to all labor attaches.
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