PHNO-HL: OFWS ON HUNGER STRIKE: WORKERS SELL BLOOD, DENOUNCES SAUDI ABUSES

OFWS ON HUNGER STRIKE: WORKERS SELL BLOOD,
DENOUNCES SAUDI ABUSES


[PHOTO - Filipino workers (OFWs) in Saudi Arabia who
are staging a hunger strike]
MANILA, AUGUST 2, 2012
(STANDARD) After staging a hunger strike last
week, at least 194 Filipino workers in Saudi Arabia have resorted to work
stoppage in protest against maltreatment and abuses by their employers. Some of
them have been selling their blood to hospitals for 300-500 rials for their
daily sustenance, a lawmaker said on Wednesday.
But Ambassador Ezzedin Tago of the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi
Arabia, said there were no such reports of simultaneous hunger strike outside
their office.
Tago admitted though that there were "stop-work protests" by Al-Swayeh
workers staged by different nationalities.
The number of protesters would not reach 194 as what Migrante International
was claiming, Tago said.
"The truth is there was no hunger strike in Al Swayeh. The truth is there was
no hunger strike by the Al Sabillah workers in Al-Jouf," Tago said.
The alleged hunger strike and labor abuses were the objects of a House
resolution filed by Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, who however did not
name the employer or their place of work.
Rodriquez, citing a Migrante report, said the there is nothing wrong with
donating blood but it is quyite different wheere donors are forced to do so in
order to earn money."
[PHOTO FROM BULATLAT -MORE OFWs IN DISTRESS]
He said the workers in Saudi were undocumented or illegal immigrant.
Migrante's Gary Martinez said the 194 overseas workers consist of 98
Filipinos from Al Swayeh company; 48 cleaners from Al-Zahran; 17 from Al-Naseeb
Establishment; 19 from Al Sabillah; and 12 from Phat.
These Filipino workers abroad, according to Martinez, were recruited and
deployed by active and licensed agencies by the Philippine Overseas Employment
and Administration.
"At least 194 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from five companies based in
Saudi Arabia continue to hold strikes and stop-work protest against their
employers," Martinez said in a statement released on Wednesday.
These 194 workers were victims of POEA-licensed agencies namely, Saveway
International Man Power, Osims Oriental Skills International Manpower, RPF
Business Management & Consultancy Inc, Irsal Employment Services Inc., GBMLT
Manpower Services Inc., Nawras Manpower Services Inc. (formerly Nawras Manpower
Services), Al Assal Manpower Inc., Matawi, 4 Brothers, and other still
unidentified agencies.
The Filipino workers were all victims of illegal recruitment and contract
violations – overcharging of placement fees, contract substitution, collection
of fees without official receipts, collection of excessive fees, loans with high
interest rates, poor working accommodations, illegal salary deductions,
non-issuance of IQAMA [working permit], non-payment of salaries in 10 months to
over one year, no overtime pay, underpayment of salaries and non renewal of
expired contracts, residence permit and medical insurance.
On Saturday, Migrante International said that workers from Al Swayeh trooped
to the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh and camped out.
Saudi Arabia Labor Attache Albert Valenciano clarified that there was no
illegal recruitment complaint but there were complaints of non-payment of salary
and end-of-service benefit, and the non-issuance of exit visas to the workers
who have finished their contracts. With Maricel
Cruz



Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
All
rights reserved




PHILIPPINE
HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE [PHNO] WEBSITE


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