‘Who will pay the P15-M unpaid rental of OFW shelter in Saudi Arabia?’

Press Release

31 October 2012

Migrante campaign vs. excessive and unnecessary fess and charges imposed to OFWs and dependents

‘Who will pay the P15-M unpaid rental of OFW shelter in Saudi Arabia?’

Thus, asked today by a Filipino migrants’ rights group in the Middle East.

Migrante-Middle East (M-ME) regional coordinator John Leonard Monterona said they’ve raised this concern to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) and to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) since August 2012.

“Until now, we are still awaiting reply from these government agencies. It seems that these PH agencies are pointing fingers of who is responsible to pay the unpaid rental that already reached to around 1.4 Saudi rials, roughly equivalent to P15-M,” Monterona disclosed.

On mid-2009, around 200 undocumented OFWs, some with children, camped out under the Khandera Bridge in Jeddah, western City of Saudi Arabia, to press the PH Consulate to attend on their repatriation. This forced the Arroyo administration through former DoLE secretary Marianito Roque in coordination with the PH Consul General in Jeddah to rent a shelter inside the Al-Mina Haj seaport terminal.

On September 2009, the PH Consulate obtained permission from the Makkah Governorate and thereby entered into a lease contract with the King Abdulaziz Endownment for Al-Ain-Aziziah, a Saudi-run agency managing the Haj seaport terminal.

“If that would lessen the burden of our distressed workers, then we might continue with the procedure,” then DoLE secretary Roque was quoted as saying during a news conference at Jeddah’s Crowne Plaza Hotel. Roque was part of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s delegation that visited Saudi Arabia on September 2009.

A year after, the incumbent DoLE secretary Rosalinda Baldoz in a statement issued on September 4, 2010, confirming ‘from July 10 to August 31, this year, the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Jeddah repatriated the 698 Filipinos, including 137 children of OFWs.  Majority or 399 of those repatriated were adult females while 162 were adult males.’ (Link of DoLE statement http://www.dole.gov.ph/secondpage.php?id=1350)

On the same statement, DoLE chief Baldoz confirmed that she authorized the use of P10 million from the 2010 budget of the DOLE as additional repatriation fund. “The amount is part of the P50 million allocated by Congress last year (referring to 2009) as repatriation fund,” she added.

Finger pointing?

Monterona said that he raised this concern to DFA undersecretary for Administration Rafael Seguis. “In fairness to Usec. Seguis, he promptly replied and assured us that he will arrange to call OWWA Administrator Carmelita Dimzon to find ways to settle this issue as per previous commitment given by then DoLE secretary Marianito Roque.

Monterona added that he too had communicated this matter to OWWA chief Carmelita Dimzon who replied back via an electronic mail that she indeed had already spoken with Usec. Seguis but will only act upon a formal letter request from the latter. “She, however, will look for the commitment order or letter by then DoLE secretary Marianito Roque,” the OFW leader added.

“As per our reliable source, DoLE-OWWA is only willing to shoulder 15% of the P15-M unpaid rental of the OFW shelter in Haj seaport terminal basing their calculation to the number of OFW repatriates that were active OWWA members on the time of their repatriation. So, we ask how about the remaining amount? Who will pay for it?” Monterona asked.

On August 21, 2012, Monterona sent a letter to Vice President Jejomar Binay, also presidential adviser on OFWs concern, seeking the latter’s intervention to solve this matter. (Attached herewith M-ME letter to VP Binay).

The undocumented OFWs who ‘surrendered’ for voluntary repatriation especially those coming from outside Jeddah are having problem where to stay while awaiting the formalities of their repatriation, according to Monterona.

“The renting of a shelter inside the Al-Mina haj terminal is of big help to undocumented OFWs who are struggling for their daily survival and it’s also vital for the PH Consulate to get focus on the free and immediate mass repatriation of undocumented OFWs which number surges from around 7,000 to nearly 10,000,” Monterona added.

“We are still awaiting reply from the Office of Vice President Binay regarding this,” Monterona added.

Congressional Committee on OFWs affairs, PNoy urged to act

Monterona urged the Congressional Committee on OFWs Affairs (COWA) to investigate the bloating unpaid rental of OFW shelter in Saudi Arabia.

“We are calling Akbayan Rep. Walden Bello in his capacity as COWA chairman to probe this. We wonder why he’s silent and no action on his part on this issue. Pa-imbistigahan nya kung saan napunta ang P10-M allocation na sinasabi ni DoLE sec. Baldoz,” Monterona averred.

Monterona also called on President Aquino III to intervene and order his secretaries to solve the issue.

“Nakakahiya eto on the part of the PH govt. especially to PNoy administration na lumulobo ang unpaid rental ng OFW shelter sa kabila nang paniningil ng Saudi agency na namamahala sa Haj seaport terminal. Baka naman sa mga undocumented and distressed OFWs pa nila kunin ang pambayad ng P15-M unpaid rental? Kapag singilin sa OFWs ang bilis, pero kapag para sa kapakanan ng OFWs wala o mabagal ang aksyon!” Monterona concluded. # # #

Reference:

John Leonard Monterona

Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator

Mobile no. 00966 543547736

‘Walden Bello anti-OFW; his OFWs’ representation is a false claim’

Press Release

26 October 2012

‘Walden Bello anti-OFW; his OFWs’ representation is a false claim’

Thus, said today by known Filipino migrants’ rights group in the Middle East in reaction to the claim of Akbayan partylist representative Walden Bello that he and Akbayan represent the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Philippine Congress.

“How one could genuinely represent the OFWs in PH Congress if its stand on various OFWs issues and concerns is totally in conflict to the interest of the OFW sector? Walden Bello’s claim that he and his party Akbayan represent the OFWs is totally false,” said Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator John Leonard Monterona.

Monterona added that in fact Bello and Akbayan have been misrepresenting OFWs in bad faith just to advance its party’s interests in cahoots with the Aquino administration.

Monterona said, “Akbayan and Bello’s puppetry to the Aquino administration had rewarded him (referring to Bello) the chairmanship of the Congressional special Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs (COWA) who is sitting cold on the various OFWs issues and concerns.”

Monterona questioned why Bello, for instance, is silent on Aquino’s Administrative Order No. 31 signed and issued October 1, 2012, allowing government agencies and controlled and owned corporations to raise fees and charges. “Undoubtedly, the OFWs will be hit hard by PNoy’s AO#31 given the numerous government documentations required for our deployment abroad.”

“Bello also killed a proposed House bill that would have prevented the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) from being under the jurisdiction of Republic Act 10149 or the GOCC Governance Act of 2011 that will transform OWWA into a GOCC and to corner its P13-B trust fund, a compulsory collection of US$25 per OFW member,” Monterona claimed.

The OFW leader also alleges that Akbayan and Bello also ‘killed’ a proposed bill that would grant credit assistance to OFWs, especially distressed, and to members of their families.

“These are just few, among the many, OFWs issues and concerns that would prove Bello and Akbayan’s anti-OFW stance. I could not remember a proposed bill or a law for that matter that was authored by Bello aiming to advance OFWs rights and welfare,” Monterona, who is now based in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

“For the many OFWs, not only here in the Middle East but around the world, Bello and Akbayan’s claim that they represent OFWs is utterly a false claim. We join other sectors and progressive groups demanding the disqualification of Akbayan as it is not ‘underrepresented’ and not even representing any marginalized sector,” Monterona concluded. # # #

Reference:

John Leonard Monterona

Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator

Mobile No. 00966 543547736

Condom in a wallet hurled OFWs in Saudi jail

Press Release

25 October 2012

Condom in a wallet hurled OFWs in Saudi jail

A man who keeps a condom in a wallet or pocket may think that it will not pose him a problem. Well, that is if you’re not working or living in the Middle East.

Two overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) were sent to jail when Saudi’s cultural police, locally known as Muttawa, found from one of them a condom in a wallet, according to a Filipino migrants’ rights group.

Migrante-Middle East (M-ME) regional coordinator John Leonard Monterona said their group affiliate in Riyadh, Saudi’s capital, acting on a request for assistance from the kin of one of the two jailed OFWs, said that on August 31, 2012 the Muttawas raided the OFWs’ accommodation located adjacent to Riyadh’s commercial district and arbitrarily searched all their personal belongings including their wallets where a condom was found on the wallet of one of them.

“OFWs ‘Geron’ and ‘Roy’ (not their real names), who were able to speak over the phone to their kin, said they both were shocked and furious that their accommodation was raided and on that same day were sent to jail allegedly in possession of a condom and pornographic video stored in a cell phone,” Monterona added.

That was a surprised or arbitrary search and seizure claimed by the OFWs, Monterona citing the OFWs who were detained in Al-hair jail also in Riyadh.

“The two OFWs were charged of prostitution, a crime punishable of 6 months to 1 year plus a hundred of lashes, if proven guilty,” Monterona added.

Monterona said they have already conveyed the case of the two jailed OFWs to the attention of the PH embassy’s Assistance to the Nationals (ATN) section and sought representation for the two and had requested to visit them in jail to get their affidavits.

“We were given an assurance by the PH embassy’s ATN official that they will closely follow this case and will recommend to the DFA to hire a local lawyer to defend them in court,” Monterona added.

Monterona further said they have also asked the PH embassy in Riyadh to raise serious concern to appropriate Saudi authorities regarding arbitrary raid on OFWs accommodations searching for evidences against fellow Filipino workers noting that similar incidents have been monitored and documented previously.

“This case depicts a clear violation of migrant’s right to privacy and to secure himself as guaranteed in the UN Convention on the Protection of Migrants and Members of their Families and of the International Human Rights Law (IHL). We appeal to the concerned authorities to respect our rights as migrant workers and human beings as we vow to strictly follow the immigration rules and respect the social norms and tradition of the host government,” Monterona appealed. # # #

Reference:

John Leonard Monterona

Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator

Mobile No. 00966 543547736

Ombudsman junks CGMA OWWA plunder case by mere technicality –OFW group

Press Release

24 October 2012

Ombudsman junks CGMA OWWA plunder case by mere technicality –OFW group

Migrants right activist group, Migrante-Middle East (M-ME) today expressed disappointment on the Ombudsman junking the plunder case against former President and now Congresswoman Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

“By mere technicality, the Ombudsman junked the plunder case versus CGMA over OWWA fund misused and malversation,” said John Leonard Monterona, M-ME regional coordinator.

Monterona added, “The Ombudsman failed to recognize the nature of the OWWA fund, which is a trust fund that is being compulsory charge to every departing OFWs.”

“There is no single centavo shared by the government to the OWWA fund, and yet the fund has been misused and misappropriated without guarantee and protection of the fund,” Monterona lamented.

Monterona added that the Ombudsman should have ordered to account the millions of OWWA fund that were transferred and misused by CGMA and her cohorts.

Monterona added their group is against the move by some pro-administration Congressmen including Akbayan Rep. Walden Bello, who chairs the especial Congressional Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs (COWA) to convert OWWA as a premier OFW welfare agency into a Government owned and controlled corporation (GOCC) as it will be transformed into a full money-making machine.

“Walden Bello of Akbayan and the Aquino govt. is eyeing the P12-B OWWA funds merge to the national govt. coffers or worst misuse the funds for partisan purposes and activities to advance their anti-people and anti-OFW agenda just like of the Arroyo regime,” Monterona lamented. # # #

Reference:

John Leonard Monterona

Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator

Mobile No. 00966 543547736

OFW group on the Sainthood of Pedro Calunsod, OFWs Patron Saint

Press Statement

22 October 2012

The recent declaration of the Sainthood of Pedro Calunsod is another milestone of the Filipino Catholics and its Church. 

Sumasang-ayon kami sa pagbibigay pugay sa kanya bilang Patron Saint of OFWs, katulad din ni St. Lorenzo Ruiz.

Both Saints inspire us, OFWs, to follow what they lived for, their good deeds, and both will serve as our inspiration.

To honor them, we will work for the formation of a group which we will call as 'OFW Missionaries' that would live up the ideals, deeds, and teachings of Saints Peter Calunsod and Lorenzo Ruiz. This group will not only propagate Church teachings but as well as the struggles of Filipino workers abroad.

Reference:

John Leonard Monterona

Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator

Mobile No. 00966 543547736

‘OFWs will be hit hard by Aquino’s new order to hike govt. fees’

Press Release

17 October 2012

‘OFWs will be hit hard by Aquino’s new order to hike govt. fees’

MIGRANTE campaign vs. excessive and unnecessary govt. fees and charges (Migrante file photo)

Thus, said today by Migrante-Middle East (M-ME) reacting to the recently signed Administrative Order by the Philippine President that would allow state agencies and government owned and controlled corporations to raise existing fees and impose new charges if necessary.

Administrative Order No. 31, per news report, was signed by President Benigno Simeon Aquino III on October 1, 2012 and is to effect immediately.

“The rates of fees and charges collected must be just and reasonable to enable the government to effectively provide services without straining the National Government’s resources,” the order stated.

“Equity requires that persons receiving or benefiting from rendered services share the cost of providing such services,” the signed AO#31 added.

Reacting to this, M-ME regional coordinator John Leonard Monterona said,“The Aquino administration should stop using ‘effective govt. services’ as a guise in order to impose unjustified and unnecessary govt. fees and charges to its people including OFWs and their families, where in fact govt. services and programs are still wanting and yet in the proposed General Appropriation Act almost all govt. social services and programs have been slashed.”

“PNoy’s Administrative Order No. 31 is anti-OFW, as we, OFWs and our dependents are already bleeding dry from unnecessary government fees and charges impose to us,” Monterona claimed.

Monterona said OFWs and their families have valid reasons to oppose PNoy’s AO#31.

“For one, OFWs are being charged for around P15,000 to P30,000 for documentation needed for our deployment formalities on top of the placement fee equivalent to 1-month salary of the deployed OFW,” Monterona, who enumerated the documents needed such as Authenticated Birth Certificate, NBI clearance and authentication, Authentication of school credentials, Passport application or renewal, Community tax certificates, POEA processing fee, PAG-IBIG membership fee, Philhealth premium from P900 will rise to P2,400 January next year, OWWA membership equivalent to US$25, among other expenses.

Monterona said all the fees he cited above are covered by PNoy’s AO#31, which will not only allow, but actually an order, to all government agencies and owned and controlled corporations to implement govt. fee hikes.

“With PNoy’s AO#31, also consular fees abroad will eventually increase. In fact, the current fees are already a burden to OFWs, such as the renewal of passport costing an OFW around P2,600,” Monterona cited.

Monterona noted with the current dollar-peso exchange rate, OFWs’ remittances were slashed of about 5% to 10%, which would mean ‘tightening of belt’ amid continuing oil price hikes and of basic goods and impending electricity and water rates hike, too.

“The PNoy is so insensitive on the economic hardship felt by OFWs and families, and the millions of ordinary Filipino workers and urban poor,” Monterona

“We call on our fellow OFWs and families to join our campaign calling for the scrapping of PNoy’s anti-OFW and anti-people AO#31,”Monterona added.

Serbisyo, Hindi negosyo!

Proteksyon, Hindi koleksyon!

Reference:

John Leonard Monterona

Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator

Mobile No. 00974 33 20 5565

Saudi OFW with kidney failure needs assistance: “I called the ambassador but no assistance ‘til now”

Press Release

16 October 2012

Saudi OFW with kidney failure needs assistance: “I called the ambassador but no assistance ‘til now”

OFW Armando Gozum, 37, a native of Tarlac sought medical aid and repatriation

An affiliate group of Migrante-Middle East (M-ME) in Saudi Arabia yesterday visited an ailing overseas Filipino worker who needs immediate medical attention.

OFW Join Force (OJF-Migrante), a group based in Al-Khobar, chairperson Sonny Rivera and fellow officer Jules Ragas reported to M-ME John Leonard Monterona the condition of OFW Armando Gozum, 37, a native of Tarlac.

Rivera and Ragas responded to a concerned fellow OFW’s call to provide aid to OFW Gozum who is sick and sleeping outside a mosque in Al-Khobar.

“11: 30 PM may tumawag po sa amin isa sa OFW dito sa Al Khobar, kung pwede po ba raw naming bisitahin ang isang OFW na natutulog nalang sa labas ng isang Mosque sa may Al Khobar at may malalang sakit (Eleven-thirty p.m., one of the OFWs here in Al-Khobar called us asking if we can visit an OFW sleeping outside a mosque who is very sick),” Rivera on his email to Monterona and other Migrante officers.

The OJF-Migrante quick reaction team, indeed, found OFW Gozum sleeping on a bench alongside a mosque in Al-Khobar. (See photos of OFW Gozum taken yesterday night).

“OFW Gozum informed our colleague that he is suffering from kidney failure,” Monterona said.

The gourp found out that OFW Guzom is an undocumented OFWs since 2007, after he ran away from his employer for alleged labor malpractices. Since then, he jumped from one part time job to another until he became sick.

“OFW Gozum alleged that he once called and talked, by phone, to PH Ambassador Ezzadin Tago asking for assistance,” Rivera adding that OFW Gozum confirmed that he was not attended by any PH embassy and labor/welfare officials in Al-Khobar after he made his call to Amb. Tago.

Monterona said his group will remind Ambassador Tago about OFW Gozum, and the allegation that he did not attend OFW Gozum’s request for assistance.

“For sure, Amb. Tago has its own version of the story. But we are inclined to believe fellow OFWs' stories on their deplorable conditions rather than the lies of PH embassy and labor officials trying to cover their own ineptitude and would not even mind lifting a hand to help the distressed and abused OFWs,” Monterona added.

Monterona said PH embassy and labor officials already knew what to do in cases like of OFW Guzom, aside from providing immediate medical attention. “Embassy and labor officials should trace his sponsor-employer to verify if there is an absconding case filed against him. If none, then negotiate for the issuance of an exit clearance for OFW Gozum.”

“On our part, we will ask OWWA chief Carmelita Dimzon to provide airfare ticket for OFW Gozum while awaiting his travel document and issuance of exit clearance. We will work for his medication and repatriation,” Monterona concluded. # # #

References:

Sonny Rivera

Chairperson, OFW Join Force-Migrante

Mobile No. 00966 55 6242479

John Leonard Monterona

Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator

Mobile no. 00974 33 20 5565

Recruiters' group proposal to ban ‘illiterates’ for Saudi domestic jobs: ‘Absurd, futile band-aid solution’

Press Release

15 October 2012

Recruiters' group proposal to ban ‘illiterates’ for Saudi domestic jobs: ‘Absurd, futile band-aid solution’

Stop forced migration. Create Jobs at home. (Migrante file photo)

Thus, said today by the Filipino migrants rights group Migrante-Middle East (M-ME) in reaction to the proposal put forward by the Philippine Association of Service Exporters, Inc. (PASEI) to the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) to ban ‘illiterate’ maids in working to Saudi Arabia.

“PASEI proposal is not only illogical but would left no option at all to what it called ‘illiterates’, amid the economic hardship hitting hard the poor ‘illiterates’ in the Philippines,” said John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator.

He added that the poor ‘illiterates’ need training and support programs instead of being excluded.

“I doubt if PASEI-member recruiters are providing or willing to train, without cost, their recruits prior to their deployment,” Monterona added.

He cited, for instance, in the implementation of the recently inked new standard contract for Household Service workers (HSWs) between the Philippines and Saudi Arabia, the Philippine-based recruiters, including PASEI, performs vital role in the monitoring aspect.

“Philippine recruiters  must see to it that their deployed workers are receiving rightful wages, being treated well by their employers, with good living accommodation, and are not subjected to various labor malpractices and abuses,” Monterona adding that PH recruiters are mandated by law (RA10022) to look after their deployed workers.

“Let us say, even if the intention of the new standard contract is ‘good’ but if it’s not honestly implemented, then it will defeat its purpose,” Monterona averred.

Monterona added that PASEI recruiters failed to recognize the root causes why, in the first place, millions of unemployed and underemployed Filipinos are forced to leave the country to work or look for jobs abroad.

“Band-aid solutions have been proven useless given the huge negative effect of forced migration phenomenon to overseas Filipino workers and families, and the society at large,” Monterona ended. # # #

Stop forced migration!

Create jobs at home!

Reference:

John Leonard Monterona

Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator

Mobile No. 00974 33 205565

OFW rights group urges support for former actress and beauty queen vs. employer over racial discrimination case

Press Release

15 October 2012

OFW rights group urges support for former actress and beauty queen vs. employer over racial discrimination case

A Filipino migrants rights group reacted to a report of television host Howie Severino in GMA Network's “News to Go” program confirming that former PH actress and beauty queen Ms. Dindi Gallardo sued her employer over racist treatment as well as physical and mental abuse. (News link http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/278005/pinoyabroad/news/actress-beauty-queen-dindi-gallardo-sues-dark-knight-creator-girlfriend-over-abuse)

“As we campaign against any form of racial discrimination, in behalf of our fellow Filipinos staying or working abroad and of other nationalities from the Third World countries, we commend former actress and beauty queen and fellow overseas worker Dindi Gallardo for her courage to speak out and sue her abusive employers. We consider her case an attack to Filipinos and peoples of color’s dignity and as human beings,’ said John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator.

“Ms. Dindi, just like any other victims of racial profiling and discrimination, deserves every Filipinos understanding and support. The degree of pain and psychological effect to Ms. Dindi is of great height and could not even be corrected by mere public apology by her abusive employers,” Monterona added.

Monterona urged the Philippine govt. through the Department of Foreign Affairs and its PH post in the US to extend legal assistance to Ms. Dindi and to other Filipinos who have been victim of racial discrimination on their quest for humane and equal treatment. 

Cases of racial discrimination are rampant in the United States, Europe, and even in the Middle East whose victims are usually Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

No to racial discrimination!

Yes to humane and equal treatment for all regardless of one's color!

Reference:

John Leonard Monterona

Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator

Mobile No. 00974 33 20 5565

Saudi OFWs scour garbage looking for food

Press Release

13 October 2012

Surging victims of forced migration

Saudi OFWs scour garbage looking for food

Photos of the 10 distressed OFWs scouring garbage to look for something to eat, October 12, 2012. (Photo courtesy of Migrante-Eastern region officers)

Ten distressed Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) went through the garbage hoping that they could look for food or something that is edible to feed their hungry stomach, according to a Filipino migrants rights group, Migrante-Middle East (M-ME), adding, ‘For some, this is not unusual or not new at all.’

“On the past, we have documented distressed OFWs hunting lizard in the dessert, ‘selling’ blood, and those who were forced to go through the garbage looking for something to eat, and these became a usual thing as usual of having inept embassy and labor officials when confronted would only reason out ‘that’s the prevailing system and we could not do something about it’,” an admission of their own uselessness,” M-ME regional coordinator John Leonard Monterona lamented.

Monterona cited anew OFWs-scouring-garbage incident in Saudi Arabia, which his group had documented. (See attached OFWs photo taken October 12, 2012).

“We came to know that 10 OFWs working for a local establishment in Al-Khobar, eastern part of Saudi Arabia, had stopped working since July of this year over labor malpractices,” Monterona citing report from Migrante officials in Al-Khobar.

His group identified the 10 distressed OFWs, namely: Bonifacio Bayubay, Perlito T. Garcia, Marlon K. Ciervo, John Ryan C. Lupega, Ronie M. Villegas, Demetrio Galia, Rodel B. Lonsame, Percival S. Bibat Jr., Wilfred C. Elbanol, and Jonathan S. Querido, all were deployed by PH-based recruitment agency YHMD International Manpower Services, which latest known address is Ground Floor, Gedisco Center, #1564 A. Mabini St., Ermita, Manila.

The OFWs were hired as construction workers and some equipment operator/technician by Ali-Fahad Al Huraish Establishment, a contracting company, which main office is in Al-Hasa, Saudi Arabia.

The OFWs had sought the assistance of PH labor attaché Adam Musa to file a case against their employer as they complain contract substitution, illegal salary deduction, salary downgrading, no sick leave, no medical insurance, delayed payment of salary, driving without official driver’s license, non-payment of overtime work, working more than 8-hour  a day, poor accommodation, no bathroom and no drinking water.

“Labor Attache Musa, after several case dialogues, is convincing the OFWs to go back to their work and forget their complaints,” Monterona citing the OFWs during conversation with Migrante officers.

The 10 distressed OFWs, however, stood by their decision to stop working as they look forward to filing a case at Saudi labor court against their employer, which Labor attaché Musa is not acting upon.

“This is gross negligence on the part of Labor Attache Musa. It is his foremost duty to provide whatever assistance the distress OFWs need such as guiding them, including documentation, in filing labor case versus their employer,” Monterona adding, “Musa should render his resignation or he should be recalled by DoLE secretary Rosalinda Baldoz.”

On a related incident, seventeen (17) OFWs working for Al-Naseeb Establishment also in Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia threatened to stage hunger strike to protest what they call ‘PH officials inaction’ and ‘no assistance’ provided to them. The OFWs stop working since May 2012 over labor malpractices.

Due to increasing incident of labor cases involving OFWs in Saudi Arabia, Monterona calls on Pres. Aquino to act swiftly on these OFWs cases.

“We are calling the attention of Pres. Aquino, who seems to be very busy endorsing administration’s senatorial candidates, to instruct his labor honchos to attend on the distressed OFWs in Saudi Arabia. We also call on Vice President Jojomar Binay to intervene on OFWs cases in his capacity as presidential adviser on OFWs concerns,” Monterona added.

“PNoy has been in office for more than 2 years and he failed to present his administration’s blue print to solve the country’s forced migration among the millions of unemployed and underemployed. Per POEA records, there are around 4,200 Filipinos per day leaving the country to work and look for jobs abroad,” Monterona noted.

The OFW leader also lambasted Akbayan Rep. Walden Bello, chair of the Congressional special Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs (COWA), who seems too reluctant to call for an investigation on numerous cases of labor malpractices and abuses involving OFWs.

“Walden Bello should not be in Congress, in the first place. Neither he nor his Akbayan party belongs to the so called marginalized and underrepresented sectors having them opportunistically established an Aquino-Akbayan power-duo,” Monterona concluded. # # #

Reference:

John Leonard Monterona

Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator

Mobile No. 00974 33 20 5565

Campaign vs. excessive and unnecessary placement fee

Press Release

10 October 2012

Campaign vs. excessive and unnecessary placement fee

Group urges OFWs to document, file complaints vs. unscrupulous recruiters

Campaign vs. Excessive and unnecessary fees (Migrante file photo)

After receiving request for assistance from several overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who were charged of excessive placement fees, a Filipino migrants’ rights group today urged OFWs to document and be firm in filing complaint against their recruitment agencies who have charged them an excessive amount of placement fee.

“We are urging our fellow OFWs to document their respective cases involving excessive charging of placement fee in order for us to file a complaint against these erring recruiters with the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) so that they will be investigated and penalized,” said John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator.

Monterona cited the case of some OFWs recently deployed in Libya who have claimed that they were charged an excessive placement fee as it is more than the amount allowed by the PH govt. The same OFWs also complained of having poor living quarters, and some no accommodation at all.

“The reports were confirmed to me by Tripoli-based PH Labor Attache Nasser Mustafa. He too had advised our complaining OFWs to document and file complaints so that he could make a recommendation to the POEA,” Monterona added.

Monterona explained, “As a general rule per POEA Rules and Regulations Governing Recruitment and Deployment of Land-based OFW, POEA-licensed recruitment agencies are allowed to collect placement fee equivalent to the one (1) month salary of the deployed OFW.”

However, there are exemptions made by the POEA like in the case of host countries that do not allow the charging of placement fee because it is the employer who will pay the cost of placement and recruitment services, according to Monterona.

Canada, UK, Ireland, Norway, the Netherlands, and the U.S.A including Guam are countries with existing ‘no placement fee’ policy that Philippine-based recruitment agencies must abide; otherwise they will face a penalty if it commits a violation.

“Even in the Middle East, most of the employers are paying to recruitment agencies so called ‘service’ fee to cover the cost of hiring and deployment of OFWs,” Monterona noted.

Monterona said he could not understand why the POEA allows recruitment agencies to charge placement fee equivalent, or even excessive per reports his group received from complaining OFWs, on the hired OFWs one month salary if the foreign employers have already paid service fee to their recruitment agencies.

‘OFWs were surprised to know that his or her employer had, in fact, already paid the corresponding placement or service fee to its recruitment agency, and yet their recruitment agency had charged placement fee on them, too” Monterona noted.

Monterona urged the POEA to intensify its monitoring activities and campaign against erring recruiters who are imposing excessive and unnecessary placement fees.

Monterona said, citing the POEA rules and regulations governing the recruitment and employment of land-based OFWs, violation of placement fee policy is a serious administrative offense that warrants cancellation of the license of the recruitment agency. # # #

Reference:

John Leonard Monterona

Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator

Mobile no. 00974 33 20 5565

Migrante-ME on SC TRO vs. Cybercrime Law

Press Statement

9 October 2012

We congratulate all OFWs online and onsite who have joined our fight versus the Cybercrime Law as the Supreme Court today issued a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) which means

halting the implementation of the said law, for the time being.

But we vow to continue our fight until the Cybercrime Law is declared unconstitutional.

We, OFWs in the Middle East under the leadership of Migrante-ME will continue our 'Black Friday' protest vs. the Cybercrime law by wearing black t-shirts/ribbon/hat every Friday. 

Junk Cybercrime Law!

Reference:

-John Leonard Monterona, regional coordinator

Migrante-Middle East

Mobile No. 00974 3320 5565

Group asks PH govt. to provide assistance to OFW raped and stabbed in Kuwait

Press Release

8 October 2012

Group asks PH govt. to provide assistance to OFW raped and stabbed in Kuwait

OFW Marissa's bruises, stitches photo taken from Arab Times-Kuwait

Migrante-Middle East (M-ME), a Filipino migrants rights group, today asked the Philippine officials in Kuwait to extend all the needed assistance to an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) who was reportedly been raped and stabbed by a law enforcer in Kuwait.

Arab Times, a local news daily in Kuwait, identified the victim as Marissa, 27, from T’Boli, South Cotabato was with a friend inside a taxi when the suspect “alighted from the police car” and took her, saying she will be brought to a police station in South Surra due to her expired residence visa.

The suspect however brought Marissa in a “dark and deserted” area where she was repeatedly raped, Arab Times reported.

Afterwards, the suspect pulled out a knife and repeatedly stabbed her in the neck and other parts of her body, also kicking her several times in the back. The suspect then left Marissa unconscious, according to the report.

The crime happened on the early morning of October 1.

OFW Marissa has been confined at Kuwait’s Mubarak Al Kabeer Hospital.

“The Aquino govt. should not let this pass. It must instruct the PH embassy officials in Kuwait to provide all the needed assistance to OFW Marissa including hiring of local lawyer to pursue her case against the culprit,” M-ME regional coordinator John Leonard Monterona said.

Monterona added that the PH embassy in Kuwait must ensure that there will be no cover up and see to it that the culprit will be sent to jail and sentenced.

Monterona added that he had already sent a communication to PH labor attaché David Des Dicang requesting for an update and status of OFW Marissa as per request from the latter’s kin in the Philippines.

According to Monterona, as per his group monitoring on a daily-basis, there were 2 to 3 OFWs who were subjected to physical and sexual abuse in Kuwait.

‘We also monitored about 6 cases of mysterious death involving OFWs in Kuwait last year,” Monterona added.

Kuwait is one of the notorious destinations of Filipino household service workers.

‘That’s why we were surprised why the DFA and DoLE-POEA certified Kuwait as ‘safe’ destination of OFWs,” Monterona stressed.

“So, for the nth time, we will repeatedly ask ‘Where’s the protection for our OFWs especially household service workers in the Middle East as promised by Pres. Aquino?” Monterona concluded. # # #

Reference:

John Leonard Monterona, regional coordinator

Migrante-Middle East

Mobile No. 00974 33 20 5565