Merly Perez, centre, along with her co-workers of Lavito Building Cleaning Services sit in their company villa in Ajman on Sunday. Amy Leang / The National
Over a year after, the same paper has again stumbled on the case of the 84 Filipina workers who were left unpaid after working as cleaners (janitress) for almost one year and were dumped in a villa in Ajman (an emirate outside Dubai
They were recruited from the Philippines
Here’s the link to the story written by XPRESS reporter Jay Hilotin and the video produced by Gulf News TV’s Irish Belleza
What they need (immediate)
- Food and drinking water
- Toiletries
- Clothes
- Medicine (for skin problems)
- Candles, flashlights
How to reach them
1. Address: Villa 72 on Street 159 in Ajman (near Ajman Planning Department building)
2. Contact persons: Mary Grace (055-4885034) Merle Perez (056-6290273)
Ares P. Gutierrez
Copy Editor
Gulf News
Direct Line: +971 4 4067511
Related articles:
GULF NEWS : Filipina workers left in the dark in Ajman
THE NATIONAL: Hope at last for stranded cleaners
KHALEEJ TIMES: Without salary, food and electricity
GMA NEWS: 84 Pinay cleaners in UAE left without food, water
ABS-CBN: 84 Pinays in UAE need help
Guys,
ReplyDeleteWe are now going to start our donation drive TODAY which will run for 10 days only so we could immediately extend whatever we could collect to all our distressed Kababayans in Ajman. Attention to all our volunteers within the area to initiate the collection ASAP and kindly print the attached collection sheet. Thank you for your continuous support as always! May God bless you a hundredfold.
Rgds,
Guys,
ReplyDeleteGaya ng dati, baka may matulong tayo. Ang daming used clothes sa bahay baka pede na natin itulong yun. Kung sa contribution para ibili ng groceries, medyo malayo pa sweldo, pero kung ano lang ang kaya pede na din. Let’s not stop by just circulating this email, it would be a lot better if we extend our little help to our “kabayans” in need kahit in our own little way. We are still blessed coz inspite of us havin’ financial difficulties, meron naman tayong maayos na tirahan, airconditioned room, may pagkain at may tubig, higit sa lahat, may work tayo para I sustain ang basic needs natin, unlike our kabayans below, they don’t have anything.
We are planning to go to Ajman this Friday para ipaabot yung tulong. For those who wish to donate anything, especially medicine for the skin disease, let us know or you can bring it directly to them in Ajman.
Let us return the blessings that our Lord continuously giving us, and let us be a blessings to other people as well.
Tulong tayo kahit magkano… or kung gusto nyo kahit anong pwede base sa nakalathala na pangangailangan nila
ReplyDeleteKawawang Pilipino. Ano ang ginagawa ng ating gobyerno. Ikulong lahat ang nga illegal recruiters.
ReplyDeletekung sino man po ang agency dito sa pinas na nag paalis dito sa mga kawawa nating mga kababayan..... ano? may konsyensya pa ba kayo? pan agutan nyo yan.
ReplyDeleteRecruitment process in the Philippines for work abroad requires much attention. Recruitment agencies in the Philippines continues to rob filipinos aspiring to work abroad in so many ways. Placement fees, one-sided contractS that favors the employers and the agency, and a promised job that does not exist.
ReplyDeletePlacement fees - POEA, the supposed body that regulates all matters involving OFW's seem to play deaf, blind and mute about the issue. They mandate that there should be no form of fees to be collected from this poor kabayans. but the recruitment agencies have their own ways of making money. Starting from the initial assessment and until a few months after departure. The initial assessment is as simple as submission of documents, procurement of passport, picture taking, initial interviews and alike. A number of agencies collect a certain amount for countless forms that the applicant needs to fill out some of which are of no use. Once and applicant pass the initial assessment, one proceeds to submission of documents. A missing document would mean a certain amount will be given to a "fixer" to do the necessary. No placement fee is collected, so agencies do not call it placement fee anymore rather terms such as "security deposit", "3 months assistance deposit", "professional fees - processing, medical, domestic assistance, travel, board and housing and many more. Do the POEA knows about this? - Definitely.
Contracts - The POEA have a specific sample contract letter that all the agencies have to follow. The contents looks great - too good to be true. Its states all the benifits, salary and it really is complete. But the last quote states that another contract might be required upon arrival but it will only ADD to the current contract (my contract has such clause in it). It only means that POEA is aware that our OFW are prone for abuse by the employers abroad. How can a second contract (most often is the only honored contract in the host country) that the salary stated is lesser than the first contract? And what is the need of the second contract anyway?
Here in UAE, man pooling is also being practiced. Well, a little bit sophisticated because already they have a branches in the Philippines. They can also actually afford to make the POEA believe of a non-existing job offer. So, what happens is OFW are sent abroad, housed and made to wait for the real job offer. Meanwhile, in order not to frustrate their beloved families in the Phlippines, these unemployed filipinos resort to thief and prostitution. Now we have international thief and international prostitute, thanks to these agencies.
POLO is more busy with the social gatherings rather than doing their job. The POLO offices should not waste the peoples money simply to live a better life abroad. They should be looking into these issues and address them. How can they allow a man-pooling agencies to exist in their jurisdiction? They should do more effort and dealing with the local (host) government to have a secure work for our OFWs. Much is to be done to fix the system, and they should start with opening their eyes to see what the real situation is, open their ears to hear the complaints of our OFWs and to act on it.
POEA, POLO, OWWA, Philippine Government - INUTIL. There WILL be a time when these people who commit crimes to fellow countrymen will get their respective punishment. Agencies who cheat and play deaf with people's lives should be stoned to death. If that will be implemented only TRUE agencies will remain.
ReplyDeleteMamma Mia, here we goes again!
ReplyDeleteThese poor workers were made to believe that they're holding a valid employment visas, never did they know that these are only visit/tourist visas, a very rampant scenario in the U.A.E.
If only our government labor agencies were doing their assignments properly we will seldom see this issue happens very often.
Our diplomats abroad seem already immune and treat OFW’s problems a normal priority only. Believe in me once this case was over it will happen again many times. It will not end until our government officials especially our representatives abroad could find a concrete solution of the many problems faced by OFWs.
Sometimes I have a feeling that our government representatives overseas are only serving there as our decorations. As if they were just hired because of “Kakilala/Padrino System” and not because of their qualifications?
Many times we heard the same scenario where changing of contract agreement happened upon arrival to host country. But until now no concrete step/solution has been made to stop this - seems that POLO doesnt do anything or not anyway care in monitoring our OFW concract. Note, it is not enough to authenticate the contract, but as well the strict enforcement of its content.
ReplyDeleteI think POLO/embassy of any country knows about the host country labor law which usually the prevailing law that will be followed upon arrival of any OFW. Hence, it would be better that any specific provisions of law of the host country where protection of worker must be incorporated in the contract agreement - not the standard contract posted in POEA must always be used by these recruitment agencies - worst due to laziness of some recruitment agency to facilitate immediate deployment, a sample copy of the POEA contract agreement are sometimes used to enable to pass the immigration counter.
Should no provision that would not protect our OFW, diplomatic effort from our government is necessary so as ensure worker protection against worst employer and this protection must be included in the contract.
you're right kabayan.kaso POLO man or EMBASSY basta sa middle east WALA SILANG SILBI.sad to say wala silang kwenta.pag lalapitan mo sila sasabihin lang nila pagtiisan mo nalang muna until matapos contract mo.kasi takot din silang mawalan ng trabaho pag pinaalis sila nung host country.ganun lang yun.dey are futile and irresponsible.i've worked in the middle east long time,from my experience,and observation too.mas mabuti pang wala sila.kasi di naman sila nakakatulong.
ReplyDeleteOfw mga bayaning Pilipino ,sa remittance umaasa ang pinas,Saan n Kaya ang mga pulitiko,tapos na pala ang election,kailangan mabawi n ang ginastos,pwede kayang un mga pulitiko,mga taga gobyerno,ang pumalit sa ofw, pra maranasan Nila,sans magkatotoo ang wish ko.
ReplyDeleteoo nga kahit isang beses lang yung mga magagaling na mambubutas eh maranasan maging OFW at sumalang sa ilalim ng mainit na araw, yung maiyak sila araw-araw dahil sa pangungulila sa mga mahal nila sa buhay, yung mabitin ang sweldo at wala ka ng maipadalang pera sa Pilipinas kasi walang pasweldo amo mo, tignan lang natin kung kayanin nila yan.
ReplyDeleteThose who sent these workers to the UAE without proper documents and assurance that their signed contracts will be honored are criminals no different from the Ampatuans, thus should should be meted with stiffest penalties to pay for their crimes.
ReplyDeleteThere is an article I read two days ago that there is a shake up of employees within the POEA and employees object to it. this incident must be closely investigated because of so many irregularities and problem affecting the life and job of each OFW . Recruiters job offer for OFW should be scrutinized and verified to see if the contract they offer to OFW are legit and not fake. Every OFW should only be able to leave with a working visa not a visitor visa, and have a guarantee of job from employer. Every OFW must report and register to the closest Phil.embassy b4 they start their new job and report evry month to ensure their personal safety and accountability of their employer. Our gov't should have within the embassy to monitor the legality of each OFW job contract b4 they be allowed to hire Filipino9s..Every company who wish to hire OFW , must get a clearance from the Phil embassy b4 they be allowed to hire OFW . If only our gov't impose this procedure employers bond guarantee( to cover thier fare and compensation loss if employer defaults plus( stating their salary and benefits from employers ,etc ) then it will help deter employers from defaulting. Recruiter s must be penalized ( jail sentence and fine)if they violated the contract,and hopefully this will curtail those illegal practices by conniving callous , merciless Filipinos.
ReplyDeleteLaws, rules and procedures are already in place. POEA through DOLE is the implementing government agency. The problem here is that POEA is turning a blind eye on the irregularities being done by their licensed recruitment agencies.
ReplyDeleteThey mentioned their contract was signed at the POEA, so it appeared that POEA is their agency, they were what POEA called name-hire.
Mr Johnson, ang mga taong ito ay dumating dito sa UAE at dumaan sa proseso ng POEA mapapatunayan ito sa mga kontratang hawak nila na authenticated ng Polo Dubai. Kung nandito ka sa UAE mas maiintindihan mo ang sitwasyon nila, and they are responsibilities of our Government.
ReplyDeleteKapalpakan ito ng DOLE,bakit kasi pinapayagan ang mga recruiters ng mga ito na makapag recruit!May lagay ba sila sa DOLE?
ReplyDeleteDear Members,
ReplyDeleteIn response to our distressed kabayan and part of PSSP community involvement, the PSSP Board is requesting all members to support this cause. The Filipino Community in Dubai and Northern Emirates is spearheading to support the 84 Pinays OFW who are living in desperate condition in Ajman, UAE. For more details, find the link below:
http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/general/filipina-workers-left-in-the-dark-in-ajman-1.686175
Video:
http://video.gulfnews.com/services/player/bcpid585633746001?bctid=615464553001
Here is the initial report from FilCom Ms. Tinette of UPAA-UAE:
- The situation as you are all aware — based on the news write-up and the video — is truly a sad state of affair: the only welcome sight was that there was a vehicle dropping off bottles of water for the ladies … so that was one immediate necessity that was looked into, for the time being that is
- Please note that men are not allowed inside the gate, offloading of goods are only outside, and we cannot really hang around as there are CIDs doing the rounds of the place
- It is best to go to Ajman during the day, especially the medical mission (that is needed most urgently) as there is no electricity
- Understanding what are the actual immediate necessities, we went to Al Hooth supermarket nearby, accompanied by Mary Grace, our contact, and bought toiletries (body soap, laundry soap, toothpaste), food (coffee, milk, sugar, canned food, noodles, vegetables, chicken & beef (in small portion, pang sahog sa gulay, bearing in mind that they do not have electricity and thus to avoid spoilage), candles, medicines (panadol, petroleum jelly & talcum powder for the rashes that many, if not most, are experiencing, plus other bits and pieces.
- we had to do a lot of rationing, considering that there are approx 80 of them there, and assured them that more assistance is forthcoming, babalik nga ulit si Tita Juliet tomorrow for additional supplies
- Prior to going to the place, we thought that perhaps we can come up with the funds toward the payment of the utility bill; unfortunately it is approx a whopping Dh20k + for two months consumption
- from our understanding, they are given only 10 days to stay and that they will be evicted from the villa
- Future contributions, aside from the items mentioned above, may also include shampoo, ladies sanitary items and medicines as some are experiencing asthma, and what not, aside from the rashes
To say that it was a nakakalungkot situation is an understatement, as talaga namang nakakaawa, especially as most of them are mothers with children, and daughters with elderly parents that they can’t even tell their families back home of the current predicament that they are in.
With the above, PSSP in its small own way is soliciting your contributions be it in goods or cash as our means to help these Pinays in need. We will set up collection points in respective chapters and collectively hand over on our Friday meeting 01 Oct 2010.
Abu Dhabi chapter: Mr. Philip - 050 3280427, Robert Macahig - 050-8165532, Vice Gary - 050 2965439
Western Region: Mr Arnel A. - 050 2354984
Al Ain chapter: Mr. Darwin C. - 050 6645824
Dubai Chapter: Jhoe T. - 056 6513362, Ms Nancy B. - 050 6587644, Mr Art B. - 050 8544008, Prez - 050 4192693
Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) chapter: Ms Mae Montes - 050 5054929
Thank you in advance for your kind help and support.
The President
OFW rights group re-iterates calls to address rampant contract substitution victimizing OFWs in the Middle-east
ReplyDeleteFollow this link to read more: http://www.ugnayan.ca/NewsArticle/Detail.aspx?newsID=20472