Kin seeks help to locate ‘missing’ Saudi OFW

Press Release

27 March 2012

Kin seeks help to locate ‘missing’ Saudi OFW

An overseas Filipino worker (OFW) who was deployed sometime on June 2011 in Saudi Arabia to work as a domestic worker has not contacted her kin in the Philippines three (3) months after she was deployed prompting the latter to seek for assistance to locate her, according to a Filipino migrants rights group Migrante-Middle East (M-ME).

Joebie Claraga Bautista, 41 years old, from Talisay City, Negros Occidental, was deployed to Saudi Arabia to work as a domestic worker for a Saudi household.

As per the information sent by the family to M-ME’s John Leonard Monterona, OFW Bautista’s deployment was facilitated by the Manila-based recruitment firm ABC Manila International Incorporated.

“On the first 3 months of her work, she still had communication and updates with us until August 2011,” her sister Niela Bautista, adding that she was surprised when someone called her and introduces herself as Analiza (Joebie’s friend) who was also working as domestic helper in Saudi Arabia.

She was informed that her sister was maltreated by her employer and asking for help to be sent home. According to Analiza, Joebie’s employer and her employer are relative.

“Our family is so worried about her situation but we can’t contact her anymore since last September last year and until now,” OFW Bautista’s sister Niela stated on her request for assistance sent to M-ME’s Monterona.

According to the family, they ‘exerted all effort to contact and looked for her; they already asked help from OWWA, DFA and Philippine Embassy, and OWWA facilitated to look her in Riyadh but they failed’.

Even the recruitment agency, ABC Manila International Incorporated, just gave the family assurance that OFW Bautista is ‘fine’, but when the family asked Joebie’s contact number and her employer, it refused to give the information.

The family also contacted Analiza. ‘She answered but she refused to get details on Joebie’s situation and she doesn’t want to get involved because she was afraid of what will happen to her’.

Monterona said he called Analiza, Joebie’s friend, and was able to speak with her, as she works with Joebie’s employer’s relative. “She (Analiza, Joebie’s friend) told me that she lost contact with Joebie since last year and that she has no information about Joebie.”

“I already alerted the PH embassy and POLO-OWWA asking them to promptly locate OFW Bautista and ascertain her condition as she had not contacted her family since September last year,” Monterona confirmed.

Monterona said the Manila-based recruitment agency has the obligation to know the condition of their deployed worker and that the family of the OFWs must be properly informed.

Monterona confirmed he already sent an electronic mail to POEA-Repatriation Unit to call the attention of OFW Bautista’s agency in Manila and require them to give information on OFW’s situation to her family.

Reference:

John Leonard Monterona

Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator

Mobile No. 00966 564978012

Make OFWs protection, ratification of ILO Convention on Domestic Workers a focal point of discussion with Kuwait Emir, group urges PNoy

Press Release

25 March 2012

Make OFWs protection, ratification of ILO Convention on Domestic Workers a focal point of discussion with Kuwait Emir, group urges PNoy

A Filipino migrants’ right group in the Middle East today urges President Benigno Simeon Aquino III to bring up OFW protection a focal point of discussion with the Kuwait Emir who is in the country for a 5-day state visit. The Kuwait’s Emir arrived Friday in Manila.

“We hope that Pres. Aquino III will grab this opportunity to discuss with his counterpart, the visiting Emir of Kuwait, to table and give priority discussing how to provide protection to our Filipino workers in Kuwait amid the rampant cases of abuse and labor malpractices especially among Filipino domestic workers,” said John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator.

Monterona noted that Kuwait, aside from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, remains to be among the mid-east countries where there are rampant abuses and malpractices committed against Asian migrant workers including OFWs,.

“Almost daily, we are receiving reports about abuses and labor malpractices coming from our fellow OFWs mostly domestic workers. There were cases of mysterious deaths recorded last year and the previous years in Kuwait,” Monterona lamented.

With an aim of sincerely providing protection to our OFWs in Kuwait, Monterona said Pres. Aquino III must bring to the attention of the visiting Emir of Kuwait the issue of OFWs protection and the ratification of the ILO Convention on Domestic Workers.

The International Labor Organization (ILO) deliberated and passed during a Convention last year binding principles and mechanisms that recognizes domestic workers rights and thereby provide them the needed protection while working overseas.

“Pres. Aquino is duty-bound to influence, if not, urge his counterpart the Kuwait’s Emir, that both country must ratify and signify the ILO Convention on Domestic Workers to be used as a framework in passing local legislation providing concrete mechanisms and protection to OFWs,” Monterona added.

Monterona added that the ratification of the ILO Convention on Domestic Workers serves as a “‘litmus’ test to sending government like the Philippines and migrant-host governments in the Middle East as there are millions of foreign domestic workers in the mid-east.

He cited, for instance, most of the Gulf Cooperating Council (GCC) member-countries have reservations in recognizing domestic workers’ alienable rights as a worker and a human being citing ‘customary practices and traditions’.

“Kuwait for example opposes the granting of day-off and the internationally recognized 8-hour work of domestic workers,” Monterona added.

On June 9, 2011, an official of Kuwait’s social affairs ministry had been quoted by Al-Qabas newspaper saying the granting of day-off and specific working hours to domestic workers “does not suit the habits, traditions and public ethics of Kuwait”. The Kuwaiti official added a maid during her day-off going to a place unknown to her sponsor is considered an offense to Kuwait’s public ethics.

“It has been known that other GCC countries and non-GCC governments also cited ‘preserving tradition and modesty of maids’ as reasons to restrict domestic workers freedom of movement and giving them day-off, among others,” Monterona noted.

Monterona said the rights of domestic workers should not be viewed as a ‘threat to host-countries tradition and customary laws.” “This could be harmonized by passing local laws that guarantees domestic workers rights while respecting the habits and traditions of the host country,” the Filipino migrant leader added.

“The slave-like view about domestic workers in the Middle East must be changed, first and foremost. This is what the ILO Convention on Domestic Workers had told the host governments including that in the Mid-east that domestic workers have rights too, rights that governments must recognize, guarantee and protect,” Monterona added.

“The passage of local legislation or policy recognizing domestic workers’ rights and welfare in the national level by the mid-east host governments must follow suit,” Monterona ended.  

As per POEA records, there are around 400,000 OFWs in Kuwait, most of them domestic workers.

Reference:

John Leonard Monterona

Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator

Mobile No. 00966 564978012

Fatwa issued by Saudi’s top religious official serves as warning –OFW group

Press Release

24 March 2012

Fatwa issued by Saudi’s top religious official serves as warning –OFW group

Reacting on the report about the fatwa issued by Saudi Arabia’s top religious official saying that all churches on the Arabian Peninsula should be destroyed, a Filipino migrants’ rights group said they viewed it as a warning to all expatriate workers who are discretely exercising religious activities aside from Islam.

Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator John Leonard Monterona said he is not surprised and he understands that the host government issued the fatwa to remind non-Muslim expatriates that exercise of religious freedom other than Islam is strictly prohibited.

“Saudi Arabia is an Islamic state. It is where the 2 Holy Mosques are located,” Monterona noted.

Monterona said that non-Muslim could not assert exercise of religious freedom where in the first place one is working in an Islamic state like Saudi Arabia.

“The fatwa should be viewed as a warning. The host govt. and Saudi religious officials are well aware that there are religious activities being held discretely in homes and apartments by non-Muslims,” Monterona averred.

He noted that last year, there were a number of Filipino workers and other nationalities that were nabbed by Saudi’s religious police called Mutawwa in Riyadh for illegally conducting religious worship and activities.

“The OFWs along with their pastors were eventually released on the condition that they will stop their regular religious worships and gatherings,” Monterona added.

According to Monterona, out of the 1.2-M OFWs in Saudi Arabia, there are about 10 to 15 percent who are Muslim and about 5% Muslim converts.

He urged fellow non-Muslim OFWs and the Filipino communities in Saudi Arabia to exert extra caution and avoid violating the religious restrictions imposed by the host government to avoid being sent into calaboose.

Reference:

John Leonard Monterona

Migrante-Middle East regional director

Mobile No. 00966 564978012

Lobby letters in support of P125 wage hike to be sent to PH legislators –OFW group

Press Release

23 March 2012

Lobby letters in support of P125 wage hike to be sent to PH legislators –OFW group

KMU members picket at ECOP office. March 22, 2012.

(Photo courtesy to KMU).

Expressing solidarity with local Filipino workers’ fight for an across-the-board, nation-wide P125 legislated wage hike, a Filipino migrants group in the Middle East today said they will be sending lobby letters to members of the Philippine Congress, both in the House of Representatives and Senate, to get support and appeal for the immediate passage of P125 wage hike bill.

Migrante-Middle East (M-ME) regional director John Leonard Monterona said his group decided to make it a collective policy action on the part of their 30,000 members in the Middle East to support the fight of local Filipino workers for P125 across the board, nationwide wage hike.

“We decided to initiate a collective policy action to send lobby letters to the members of the Philippine Congress especially the members of the respective committee on labor and employment on both houses,” Monterona adding that they will start sending lobby letters next week until the resumption of Congress session by May 2012.

He added that this collective policy action is aimed to get the support of the majority of PH legislators required to pass the P125 wage hike bill without further delay.

Monterona added: “Magkarugtong ang bituka ng local na mangagawa sa Pilipinas at kaming mga OFWs kaya susuporta kaming mga OFWs sa laban nila. Sa katunayan, madami sa mga nawalan ng trabaho o iyong di sapat ang kita ang napipilitang maghanap ng trabaho sa labas ng bansa kahit pa man wala ding kaseguruhan.”

He noted that since 2001, a bill for P125 wage hike has been repeatedly filled by progressive partylist groups Bayan Muna, AnakPawis, and the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), but these were easily ‘killed’ by the allies of the previous anti-workers administrations in Congress.

Monterona said the P125 wage hike is more than justified amid the soaring price hikes on oil products and other basic commodities and following the P.50 jeepney fare hike that was implemented the other day.

The Saudi-based OFW leader noted that the current P404 minimum wage in the National Capital Region (NCR) for instance, is way below the P957 daily cost of living.

“The huge discrepancy in the daily cost of living and minimum wage earned by local workers is a key factor that pushes and forces Filipino workers to look for overseas jobs even without certainty and security,” Monterona noting that equitable workers’ wage is a social justice issue.

Monterona noted that the Aquino III govt. labor honchos, who also served the previous pro-capitalist Arroyo regime, are capitalizing this situation in its intensified labor exportation of cheap Filipino labor abroad in exchange of expected billion dollar returns from OFWs, which the country badly needed to spur economic consumption keeping the local economy afloat and beef up dollar reserves and to maintains its international financial standing.

Monterona also chided Sen. Frankilin Drilon who was quoted as saying that wage hike cannot be legislated. “If it’s for our workers’ best interest, even the supposed independent members of the Senate like Sen. Drilon readily and easily bowed down to the wishes of his master, the pro-capitalist Aquino III and big businessmen.”

“But, we will also send Sen. Drilon our lobby letter hoping that he will realize to support the passage of the P125 wage hike bill,”Monterona ended. # # #

Reference:

John Leonard Monterona

Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator

Mobile No.00966 564978012

Philhealth premium hike on OFWs from P900 to P2,400 under protest -OFW group

Press Release

19 March 2012

Philhealth premium hike on OFWs from P900 to P2,400 under protest -OFW group

A Filipino migrants’ rights group in the Middle East today insisted that the premium hike recently implemented by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (Philhealth) under its Overseas Workers Program is ‘still under protest’.

Late last year, the Philhealth Board issued Circular No.022 imposing a 150% hike in health yearly premiums of OFWs from the current P900 to become P2,400.00

The premium hike faced strong opposition from various OFWs organizations under the banner of Migrante International questioning the legality of the premium hike as it violates the Migrant Workers Act of 2010 or RA 10022 and there were no consultations conducted among various OFWs groups abroad.

On January this year, Migrante-Middle East kicked off an online signature drive (http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/no-to-philhealth-premium-increase-scrap-circular/), which gathered wide support from OFWs and their families.

Due to OFWs strong opposition, the Philhealth Board issued Circular 007, S.2012 on Feb.21 amending Circular 022. It said that the annual premium contribution of OFWs shall be P1,200 effective January 1, 2012 and will become P2,400 effective January 1, 2013.

Reacting to this, Monterona noted that there is still an increase, from the previous P900 to P1,200, which will become P2,400 by January 1, 2013.

“Every time the government or any of its welfare agencies say it wanted to improve its services to stakeholders there is a corresponding increase on premium hikes, though we could only see later that there was no improvement at all on its services and programs,” Monterona lamented.

Monterona also scored the Philhealth for requiring Balik Mangagawa or vacationing OFWs to sign a policy contract in the issuance of their Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) to avail the special ‘lock-in’ rate of P1,200 premium per year which will expire by next year and automatically will become P2,400 by January 2013.

“Because we are required to get an OEC and the payment of our Philhealth premium is attached to it, we are forced now to pay P1,200 for our health premium. Thus, we are urging our fellow OFWs especially those Balik-Mangagawa to write the word ‘Under Protest’ on their OEC (see attached sample) to manifest our on-going opposition on this unjustified premium hikes,” Monterona added.

Migrante-ME calls on Pres. Aquino III to instruct his health dept. secretary not to implement any premium increase and stop imposing additional burden to OFWs and families amid oil prices hikes and high inflation.

“Inaction by the President on this OFW legitimate issue is a classic example of ‘Noynoying’”, Monterona concluded.

Reference:

John Leonard Monterona

Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator

Mobile No. 00966 564978012

‘Noynoying’ familiarity connects OFWs; group says many embassy, labor officials abroad also ‘Noynoying’

Press Release

17 March 2012

‘Noynoying’ familiarity connects OFWs; group says many embassy, labor officials abroad also ‘Noynoying’

If Malacanang is annoyed of the term ‘Noynoying’ popularized by student-activists in Manila to describe the laziness or of ‘doing nothing’ of the Aquino III government amid unabated oil price hikes on a weekly basis, a Filipino migrants rights group said ‘Noynoying’ easily connects many Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the Middle East and in other part of the globe.

Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator John Leonard Monterona chided Malacanang that instead of being irritated, it must squarely confront the problem of unabated oil price hikes that eventually will have a domino effect on basic goods and commodities prices.

“Dama ng buong katawan ang sakit ng kalingkingan. Eto ang nakikita nating epekto ng walang-humpay na pagtaas ng presyo ng krudo, gasoline at LGP. Dapat may gawin ang Aquino III govt. kung ayaw nitong mabansagang ‘Noynoying’!” Monterona lamented.

Monterona noted that transport groups are already asking for a ‘fair’ fare increase, which was followed by labor groups asking for a wage increase.

“If ‘Noynoying’ best describes the laziness or inaction of the government and officials, then our distressed and abused OFWs often exposed to ‘Noynoying’ almost daily as we continuously received complaints against embassy and labor officials not providing the needed assistance,” Monterona referring to rampant cases of abuse and labor malpractices committed against OFWs.

He cited for instance the case of 89 OFWs in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia working for Al Swayeh Company.

The OFWs stopped working since early January this year as they detailed their complaints, such as: 1) the company didn’t release our salary for more than five (5) months now -from month of May up to the present month, 2) some of the employees had pending salaries way back from the year 2010, 3) Majority numbers of the employees had an expired Iqamas, 3) Medical insurance have not been renewed due to Iqama issue and we’re shouldering with our own expenses during the medication of ourselves, 4) worker’s whom filed for their vacation/exit for almost a year without paying their individual dues and no further action from the company.

Monterona also cited the 38 women OFWs temporarily seeking refuge at the Saudi Social Welfare Administration (SSWA), Saudi govt. halfway center for distressed women migrant workers. “They have been there for more than 3 months, while others said 6 months already. But until now, they’re still awaiting their travel documents to be provided by the PH embassy in Riyadh,” Monterona revealed.

Monterona also cited the case of the 17 Filipino drivers deployed sometime in 2010 as drivers to Al-Sabillah, a construction and trucking company based in Al-Jouf, about 1,600km north of Riyadh. In November 2011, the distressed OFWs decided to stopped working as they were not paid of their salaries for 3 months while others have been deducted US$500 over their delayed salaries.

Monterona said Migrante members will mimic ‘Noynoying’ during social gatherings of OFWs and their families and will make this a campaign versus inept embassy and labor officials and also to press the Aquino III govt. to do something to lessen the impact of oil price hikes such as removal or suspension of VAT on oil products, repeal of Oil Deregulation Law, and to control oil price hikes, among others.

Reference:

John Leonard Monterona

Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator

Mobile No.00966 564978012

Migrante-Middle East (M-ME) reaction on OFWs remittance slowing trend yearly

Press Statement

16 March 2012

Migrante-Middle East (M-ME) reaction on OFWs remittance slowing trend yearly

This is in reaction to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas information that OFWs remittances by January this year is the lowest comparing it to previous years 2009 and 2010.

Per Central Bank Data, the money transfers grew significantly slower last January from 7.6 percent a year earlier and from 8.5 percent in the first month of 2010.

We are expecting that OFWs remittance will increase last year (2011) as it is directly proportional to the steady increased of Filipino workers who were peddled abroad. But on a yearly basis, the OFWs remittance increases is on down-trend as we have noticed due to factors such as the Middle East-North African political upheaval, Japan and NZ quakes at the worsening economic down turn in Europe and America.

So, it is not good to see that under the Aquino administration the labor thrust is still the same of previous administrations -the intensification of peddling unemployed and underemployed Filipino workers who were forced to accept dirty, dangerous, and dehumanizing jobs abroad without concrete protection for their well being, safety and labor rights. This mean the government continues to fail creating local jobs with decent pay and benefits. For us, the government's labor export program is not a reliable, and in fact dwindling, economic measure providing band aid solution to the country's economic woes. 

We renewed our call to the Aquino govt. to seriously implement genuine agrarian reform program with allied services and technological support to the farmers and to nationalize our important and strategic basic industries such as oil and mining, etc... These will serve as our country's economic backbone going to real economic progress and development.

Reference:

John Leonard Monterona

Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator

Mobile No. 00966 564978012

OFW group calls kin, dependents to join March 15 ‘Protestang Bayan’

Press Release

14 March 2012

OFW group calls kin, dependents to join March 15 ‘Protestang Bayan’

A Filipino migrants rights group with chapters and affiliate OFW organizations in the Middle East today call their kin and dependents to join the March 15 “Protestang Bayan” by other sectors and groups in opposing the continued oil price hikes by big oil companies sans Aquino govt. inaction providing relief to struggling public including OFWs families and dependents.

John Leonard Monterona, Saudi-based Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator, said his group strongly urged their 22,000 OFW members and OFWs networks in the Middle East to call their dependents and relatives in Metro Manila and provinces to join the March 15 Protestang Bayan.

Lead by the multi-sectoral group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan and Kilusang Mayo Uno and Piston, the March 15 Protestang Bayan calls for the Aquino govt. the removal of Value Added Tax (VAT) on oil products, repeal of Oil Deregulation Law, among others.

“Not only our dependents could feel the brunt of unabated oil price hikes, but the impact is felt hard by us also, OFWs. ‘Dama ng buong katawan ang sakit ng kalingkingan’ gaya ng walang habas na pagtaas ng presyo ng krudo at langis,” Monterona added.

Monterona added that meager salary of most OFWs ranging from Php.12,000 to 15,000 would not be enough amid the rising cost of living and inflation.

“The Aquino govt. should know that inflation is also rising here at the host country. Thus, it’s a double or even triple whammy as to the effect of oil price hikes to us, OFWs and families in the Philippines,” Monterona lamented.

He also pointed out that the Aquino govt. this time must exercise political will and be resolute to remove VAT on oil products or even temporarily suspend it.

“The repeal of Oil Deregulation Law must be certified as an urgent bill in Congress. Tackling this is even most important than the on-going CJ Corona impeachment trial as it is nearly linked to our people’s empty stomach,” Monterona added.

“So, we call on our dependents and relatives in the Metro Manila and those in the provinces to go out and join tomorrow’s Protestang Bayan. Collective actions in bigger numbers are needed so that the Aquino govt. should hear us clearly and act promptly on the people’s legitimate demands,” Monterona ended. # # #

Reference:

John Leonard Monterona

Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator

Mobile No.00966 564978012

Not farfetched that more OFWs will be killed in high-risk Syria –OFW group

Press Release

14 March 2012

Not farfetched that more OFWs will be killed in high-risk Syria –OFW group

It is not remote that more overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in strife-torn Syria will be killed, if not hurt, amid news of an OFW ‘killed in an ambush’ that was confirmed today by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in Manila, according to a Filipino migrants rights group Migrante-Middle East (M-ME)

Earlier today, DFA spokesperson Raul Hernandez was quoted as saying during a radio interview that an OFW only identified as Montesor was killed last February 24 allegedly in an ambush by armed gangs in Homs.

Reacting to this, M-ME regional coordinator John Leonard Monterona said the latest confirmed report about an OFW killed in Syria brings to casualties involving OFWs to three (3).

“The first reported incident of an OFW killed in Syria was last January 5, 2012. The victim, OFW Violeta Cortez, on her mid-40’s from San Pablo, Laguna reportedly found dead at an undisclosed street in Damascus,” Monterona noted.

On a statement issued on January 11, M-ME said “it is not ruling out that OFW Cortez was possibly hit by a stray bullet while cruising her way out of Homs, where heavy fighting still ensued, going to Damascus to seek the Philippine embassy’s assistance.”

The other report (an OFW killed) M-ME got from the OFWs in Syria was sometime in November of last year, also an alleged stray-bullet incident that killed an unidentified OFW in Homs, Syria.

“It is sad to note again that our OFWs who were forced to accept jobs, even those deployed illegally in Syria, serve as collateral damage with PH govt. wait-and-see stance in its evacuation and repatriation efforts that should have been done early last year when the conflict first erupted in Syria and its inaction to join the international community to stop the war in Syria,” Monterona opined.

According to DFA reports, only about more than a thousand, out of 17,000 OFWs in Syria, were repatriated since the PH govt. imposed a mandatory repatriation of OFWs last quarter of last year (2011).

“More OFW deaths, though we pray that no other OFW would be hurt or killed in Syria, is the price of a ‘wait-and-see evacuation and repatriation stance’ by the PH govt., the DFA and other concerned govt. agencies. Evacuation and repatriation efforts must be pro-active, this is what the MENA crisis taught us so far,” Monterona concluded. # # #

Reference:

John Leonard Monterona

Migrante Middle East regional coordinator

Mobile No.: 00966 564978012

OFW alliance to pay tribute to Mr. Joe Avancena, Saudi-based Filipino journalist, who passed away last night

Press Statement

9 March 2012

OFW alliance to pay tribute to Mr. Joe Avancena, Saudi-based Filipino journalist, who passed away last night

Officers and members of Migrante-Middle East and affiliate organizations extend deepest condolences to the family, relatives and friends, and the Saudi Gazettee co-workers of Mr. Joe Avancena, who passed away last night at around 6:00 p.m. He succumbed to cardiac arrest. His remains lies at the morgue of King Fahad University Hospital in Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia.

Mr. Avancena works as Bureau Chief and Editor at Saudi Gazette, a daily English newspaper in Saudi Arabia.

We and the entire Filipino community, not only those in the Eastern region where he is based but also OFWs in other places in the Kingdom, are saddened upon hearing this disheartening news of his death.

We enjoin our members and OFWs networks to include on their prayers the eternal repose of his soul as we extend our condolences to Tata Joe’s family and relatives. 

Reference:

John Leonard Monterona 

Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator

Mobile No.00966 564978012

Stranded Pinoy seamen in Egypt to arrive March 9

Press Release

7 March 2012

Stranded Pinoy seamen in Egypt to arrive March 9

More than 5 months stranded in an Egyptian port, twenty-nine out of the 32 Filipino seafarers will be arriving March 9 via Qatar Airways flight nos. 515 (Cairo-Doha) connecting to Manila flight no.646 (Doha-Manila), according to a Filipino migrants’ rights group that assisted the stranded Pinoy seamen.

On January 14, 2011, Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator John Leonard Monterona said on his electronic mail sent to Sekur Manning Incorporated, the Manila-based manning agent of the Pinoy seamen, he received a message from the latter requesting assistance as they have been stranded at Damiettaport, Egypt.

“They conveyed to me that they have been staying in Damietta for almost 3 months now without being paid of their salaries and even allotment to support their respective families in the Philippines. Some of them said they have already completed their contract but your principal, the Sekur Holdings, is not allowing them to be sent back in the Philippines,” Monterona stated on his Jan.14 email sent to Sekur Manning Inc.

Yesterday, March 6, Monterona confirmed that he received a reply from Sekur Manning Inc. through its Crewing officer Ms. Josephine T. Laurea confirming that 29 Pinoy seamen ‘will disembark as scheduled’, while ‘3 decided to stay on-board and continue to finish their contracts’.

Sekur Manning Inc. also stated that ‘all arriving Filipino Seafarers will meet at the Airport (in front of letters STUVW) where we can monitor them at screen (TV) by Ms. Josephine with other Office staffs.

“In light of this positive development, we will be coordinating with the Pinoy seamen to issue their consent upon arrival in the Philippines so that the suspension order imposed by the POEA against Sekur Manning Inc. will be lifted,” Monterona adding that it is entirely up to the Pinoy seamen if they will agree to move for the lifting of the suspension.

“I think, lifting of the suspension will only take effect only after the entitlements like unpaid salaries and other benefits due them will be given,” Monterona opined.

Monterona commended the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) for attending on the complaints of the Pinoy seamen. ‘In fairness to the POEA, then under Administrator Atty. Carlos Cao, they acted fast imposing a suspension to the manning agency so that the Pinoy seamen will be attended.

Reference:

John Leonard Monterona

Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator

Mobile No. 00966 564978012

Follow Singapore’s mandatory day off for foreign domestic workers, OFW group urges migrant-host governments in the Middle-east

Press Release

6 March 2012

Follow Singapore’s mandatory day off for foreign domestic workers, OFW group urges migrant-host governments in the Middle-east

A Filipino migrants’ rights group in the Middle East today said the recent granting of mandatory day off for foreign domestic workers (FDWs) by the Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower (MOM) poses a real challenge to middle-eastern governments hosting about 25-M domestic workers mostly from Asian countries like the Philippines, Indonesia, and India.

“We welcome Singapore government policy shift, through its Ministry of Manpower, in granting mandatory day off for foreign domestic workers, including our 65,000 Filipino domestic workers. It certainly geared towards humanization of domestic labor and recognition that domestic works is real work,” said Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator John Leonard Monterona, also an OFW based in Saudi Arabia.

Monterona added that Singapore’s granting of mandatory day off poses a “‘litmus’ test to middle-eastern governments hosting millions of FDWs.”

He cited, for instance, most of the Gulf Cooperating Council (GCC) member-countries have reservations in recognizing domestic workers’ alienable rights as a worker and a human being citing ‘customary practices and traditions’.

“Kuwait for example opposes the granting of day-off and the internationally prescribed 8-hour work of domestic workers,” Monterona added.

On June 9, 2011, an official of Kuwait’s social affairs ministry had been quoted by Al-Qabas newspaper saying the granting of day-off and specific working hours to domestic workers “does not suit the habits, traditions and public ethics of Kuwait”. The Kuwaiti official added a maid during her day-off going to a place unknown to her sponsor is considered an offense to Kuwait’s public ethics.

“It has been known that other GCC countries and non-GCC governments also cited ‘preserving tradition and modesty of maids’ as reasons to restrict domestic workers freedom of movement and giving them day-off, among others,” Monterona noted.

Monterona said the rights of domestic workers should not be viewed as a ‘threat to host-countries tradition and customary laws.” “This could be harmonized by passing local laws that guarantees domestic workers rights while respecting the habits and traditions of the host country,” the Filipino migrant leader added.

“The slave-like view about domestic workers in the Middle East must be changed, first and foremost. This is what the ILO Convention on Domestic Workers had told the host governments including that in the Mid-east that domestic workers have rights too, rights that governments must recognize, guarantee and protect,” Monterona added.

“The passage of local legislation or policy recognizing domestic workers’ rights and welfare in the national level by the mid-east host governments must follow suit,” Monterona ended.  # # #

Reference:

John Leonard Monterona

Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator

Mobile No. 00966 535921228