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Saturday, June 16, 2012

Saudi Arabia ranks first in cases of OFW abuse

Saudi Arabia ranked first on the list of countries with recruitment violation cases and disciplinary action cases involving Filipino domestic helpers based on the data presented by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA).

According to records of the POEA Saudi Arabia has the highest recruitment violation cases with a total of 633 with 541 cases in 2011 and 92 cases for the first quarter of 2012. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is second with 227 cases, 177 in 2011 and 50 in 2012.

Taiwan recorded a total of 206 cases with 130 in 2011 and 76 in 2012; Qatar has 164 cases with 127 in 2011 and 37 in 2012.

Saudi Arabia also topped the list of countries with most number of disciplinary action cases that involves employers totaling to 289. The data however only covers the first three months of 2012 from January to March.

UAE has 74 cases, followed by Qatar with 62, Kuwait with 47.

The said cases involve Filipino domestic helpers who decided to travel to the said countries to earn a living.

The data was presented during the Senate foreign relations committee chaired by Senator Loren Legarda to discuss the International Labor Organization (ILO) Convention No. 189, also known as the Decent Work for Domestic Workers’ Convention.

Legarda has expressed strong commitment to the Philippines’ ratification of the ILO convention, which details the universal rights of all domestic workers including those working overseas.

The Convention was adopted by the General Conference of the ILO in June 16, 2011 and was signed by President Benigno Aquino III last May 18, 2012. It was referred to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations last June 6.

Legarda explained that the ILO Convention No. 189 encourages its signatories to set standards for employment agencies recruiting or placing domestic workers, in accordance with national laws, regulations and practice.

source:  Manila Times