By
Ferdinand Patinio
April 6, 2019
MANILA — Department of Labor and
Employment (DOLE) Secretary Silvestre Bello III has ordered an investigation
into the reported abuses against overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) by their
recruitment agencies in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Philippine
Overseas Labor Office (POLO) Jeddah Labor Attache Nasser Munder reported to
Bello cases of defrauding of OFWs and an alleged rape, where a representative
of a recruiter company is involved.
Bello
directed the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) to
investigate the report submitted by the POLO official involving recruitment
firms Madar Al Kharj Recruitment Agency and Iemploy Manpower Services Inc.
Munder said four
household service workers --Samra Musa Lidasan, Lyn Silongan Sali, Norhen Gayo
Sarat, and Noraima Mamadra Bandara-- were forced to work for more than 10 hours
in different households, and additional two hours at the household of their
employer.
He added that the workers
are holding legitimate Iqama but were compelled to work as cleaners.
They ran away from their
employer and sought refuge at the Migrant Workers and Other Overseas Filipinos
Resource Center (MWOFRC) in Jeddah on Mar. 1, 2019.
Munder also reported an
alleged rape case involving a 22-year-old OFW identified only as
"Saida" on Dec. 28, 2018. The suspect was her agency's
representative.
The
victim is staying at Bahay Kalinga as the case is being handled by the
Assistance to Nationals Section of Philippine Consulate General (PCG) in
Jeddah.
Munder has recommended the
suspension and cancellation of the licenses of the concerned recruitment
agencies.
Bello also ordered the
POEA to immediately report the developments and results of the investigation to
authorize appropriate sanctions against both companies.
He assured the OFWs of
the necessary assistance from POLO and POEA. (PNA)
