JEDDAH, 7 November 2004 — A sewer reported to the Philippine Consulate that she was being constantly beaten up by her employer for any perceived mistakes. When the police later called the employer to check on the worker’s condition, the employer beat her up again.
A company doctor, depressed for not being paid her salary over the past month, collapsed during work. When her Filipino colleagues tried to come to her rescue, their employer barred them from getting near and even threatened to have them arrested by police.
Marcelo Calma came to the consulate two years ago to seek help to transfer to a new sponsor. He was told by a case officer to have himself arrested by police instead, so that he can go home. Not knowing what to do, Calma took his friends’ advice to work as an illegal, thus becoming a TNT, or tago ng tago (always in hiding)
These, and many more, were among the cases reported by several Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) led by the Migrante International to Consul General Pendosina Lomondot yesterday in Jeddah.
In a free-for-all dialogue at Lomondot’s office, the group said the number of Filipino workers in the Kingdom who are leaving their employers is alarming and the Philippine government needs to do something more to address their plight.
Migrante said that in Jeddah alone, it has under its care more than 200 stranded OFWs, including 30 women, because these workers have nowhere to go.
Leo Legazpi, Migrante’s spokesman in the region, said that the cases of runaways range from non-payment of wages, maltreatment, sexual harassment, aside from those who want to go home and those whose cases have not been resolved.
One OFW under Migrante’s care has been staying in the Kingdom illegally for the past seven years, he said.
“We just want our officials to know of the plight of these OFWs and there are so many of them. They come from Riyadh, Abha, Qassim, Khamis Mushyat and other places,” Legazpi told Arab News.
Legazpi said even his employer has changed his contract and those of others from one year to three years, and charged them for their visa, iqama, and utilities. He said their employer also forced them to work for 10 hours without overtime pay.
The group of about 15 workers came to the consulate rather tense and in a combative mood. Once allowed inside the consulate compound, they took out banners and placards and staged a “die-in” protest in front of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO).
“Recall Ambassador Bahnarim Guinomla,” read one of the placards. The Philippine Embassy in Riyadh had been accused by Migrante International of being remiss in its job of helping many stranded OFWs, a charge Guinomla and other community leaders in Riyadh have vehemently denied.
Told of the protest, Consul General Lomondot invited Legaspi and his companions to his office and asked them to enumerate their complaints. He then asked for a list of stranded OFWs under Migrante’s care, a list of those who want to go home and those who want to get a release from their employer so that the consulate can help them.
“As soon as Ramadan ends, we will begin working on your complaints,” Lomondot assured the workers. He instructed Vice Consul Jose Jacob, Labor Attaché Nasser Munder and Administrative Officer Taha Guinomla, who were present during the dialogue, to make sure his promise would be fulfilled.
“It is good that they came here and presented their problems, otherwise we won’t be able to act on these problems. I hope we would continue to have similar dialogues,” Lomondot told Arab News.
He also asked the workers to try to understand the limitations under which the Philippine Embassy and Consulate have to work, such as the local laws and manpower availability. In Jeddah, for instance, there is only one vice consul where the used to be three. Still, he said, the consulate is doing its very best to resolve all problems brought to its attention.
Legazpi and his companions expressed their appreciation to the openness of the consul general and his aides.
“We hope that they will continue to address all cases or concerns brought to the consulate, not only now but anytime there is a problem,” said Legaspi.
He lamented that for as long as the Philippines continue to make labor export one of its major programs, the number of OFWs exposed to various kinds of hazards and abuses is bound to swell.