Department of Migrant Workers Secretary Susan Toots Ople announced that the funds for the unpaid claims of former overseas Filipino workers in Saudi Arabia are already in place.
“Malinaw at damang dama namin ‘yung commitment ng Saudi Arabia. Significant progress na ang nakamit namin,” Ople said in a press briefing.
Ople said that they did no longer ask for the amount of the funds set aside by the Saudi government but she was assured by Minister Ahmed bin Sulaiman Al-Rajhi, who heads the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, that it can cover all the claims of thousands of OFWs.
“The payment will be made. The payment is now allocated, ‘yun pong full amount is already allocated and with the Ministry of Finance,” DMW Undersecretary Bernard Olalia also said.
Ople said that their Saudi counterparts asked for more time to validate all the claims.
“Hiling lang nila ay konti pang oras para matiyak nila na nasa tamang proseso at legalidad ang pagkuha ng claims,” the secretary added.
“They said that by next month, which is June, they may be able to give us more details. If not June, at least in the coming months,” she added.
KUWAIT CITY, May 21: In light of the ongoing Filipino labor crisis sources familiar with the file put forward a number of solutions that they deem necessary, and that can contribute to finding common ground for the two parties, on which they can build, especially since Filipino labor constitutes about 80 percent of domestic workers in Kuwait, reports Al-Rai daily.
The sources believed that there are 8 solutions that can help solve the problem, which are:
■ Allowing labor offices to transfer the residence of the worker to another sponsor, in the event that she does not wish to work with the first sponsor, while preserving the rights of both parties.
■ Educating workers about the need to abide by the laws and customs of the host country, and imposing fines on them in the event that they run away without convincing reasons, given that they have signed a two-year contract, and allow them to change the sponsor in the event of the expiration of the contract period.
■ The government shelter center receives all the fugitives immediately, in cooperation and in coordination with the embassy and with the employment and sponsor’s office, to solve any problem as soon as possible before it escalates.
■ Strictly implementing penalties for those who cover up or harbor a runaway domestic worker, and hold him/her responsible to pay the value of the recruitment to the first sponsor.
■ Establishing a mechanism to follow up on the worker’s receipt of her full salaries.
■ Not allowing the female worker to travel without the knowledge of the employer and the recruiting office.
■ Commitment to the unified model contract signed between the two countries for the recruitment of workers.
■ Not to seek partial or total suspension of sending workers to Kuwait, whenever an official demands that, on the background of any individual case.
The sources confirmed that “the embassy’s reception of the runaway worker, issuing a travel document for her, and deporting her after recording her complaint, without waiting for the sponsor or the office to respond, and contenting herself with asking the Kuwaiti recruitment office to pay the ticket and delayed salaries, is a kind of injustice to the offices, and deepens the crisis, knowing that Kuwaiti law does not allow the deportation of any worker who has dues before obtaining a clearance.
Meanwhile, prominent Filipino parliamentarian has called for imposing a comprehensive ban on sending her country’s workers to Kuwait, criticizing what she considered a failure on the Kuwaiti side to provide adequate protection for those workers. This escalating demand came from Representative Rachel Arenas, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the Philippine Parliament, who described her proposal as “a punitive response to the Kuwaiti government’s decision regarding suspending the issuance of new visas for Filipino workers.”
She added, “The proposed ban should remain in place until Kuwaiti government officials sit down with our officials and agree to our demands. Until this happens, we should not meet their demands and not submit to their intimidating measures.” Arenas concluded saying “It saddens me to see our workers abused and even killed at the hands of their employers. We should only send our workers to countries that treat them with dignity, protect their rights, and take into account their welfare.”
Kalahati ng mga ospital sa kabisera ng Sudan ay “walang aksyon” dahil sa tumitinding mga sagupaan, ayon sa isang nangungunang organisasyon ng tulong – kahit na ang bilang ng mga nasawi ay tumataas, na marami sa mga nasugatan ay nangangailangan ng medikal na atensyon.
“Ayon sa impormasyong mayroon kami sa Khartoum, 50% ng mga ospital ay walang aksyon sa unang 72 oras,” sabi ni Abdalla Hussein, ang Médecins Sans Frontière (MSF) operational manager para sa Sudan. “Ito ay dahil ang mga kawani ay hindi ligtas na pumunta doon o ang mga ospital mismo ay napapailalim sa pag-shell o pambobomba,” sabi niya.
Ayon sa World Health Organization (WHO), hindi bababa sa 270 katao ang napatay at mahigit 2,600 ang nasugatan mula nang sumiklab ang sagupaan noong Sabado sa pagitan ng hukbo ng Sudan at ng paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
Sa gitna ng tunggalian ay isang labanan sa kapangyarihan sa pagitan ng mga pinuno ng mga grupo: ang pinuno ng militar ng Sudan na si Abdel Fattah al-Burhan at pinuno ng RSF na si Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, na kilala rin bilang Hemedti.
Habang nangangamba ang mga residente sa putok ng baril, nanawagan ang mga internasyonal na pamahalaan para sa isang tigil-putukan upang ang mga awtoridad ay makapagpamahagi ng tulong at makapag-coordinate ng mga evacuation sa gitna ng mga pag-atake sa mga dayuhang mamamayan, kabilang ang mga diplomatikong kawani.
Noong Miyerkules, sinabi ng Japan na naghahanda itong magpadala ng militar nito para ilikas ang mga mamamayan mula sa Sudan.
Nakipag-ugnayan ang Japan sa lahat ng 60 mamamayan nito sa Sudan, kabilang ang mga kawani ng embahada, sinabi ni Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno sa isang emergency news conference. Walang mga ulat ng mga pinsala sa kanila, bagama’t kakaunti ang pagkain at tubig, at naging madalas ang pagkawala ng kuryente habang lumalala ang sitwasyon ng seguridad.
Ang mga karagdagang detalye tungkol sa deployment ng Self-Defense Forces ng Japan ay tatalakayin sa hinaharap, idinagdag niya.
Ang Estados Unidos ay hindi nag-anunsyo ng anumang mga plano para sa isang operasyon ng paglikas para sa mga Amerikano sa Sudan, ngunit hinimok ang mga mamamayan nito na manatili sa loob ng bahay, magsilungan sa lugar, at lumayo sa mga bintana.
Ang ibang mga bansa ay naglathala ng mga payo sa kanilang pambansa sa Sudan. Hiniling ng China sa mga mamamayan nito na manatiling mapagbantay at irehistro ang kanilang impormasyon online sa Embahada ng Tsina sa Khartoum. Ang Indian Embassy sa Sudan ay naglabas din ng isang advisory noong Martes na humihiling sa mga mamamayan nito na manatili sa loob ng bahay at mga supply ng rasyon dahil sa pagnanakaw.
Dumating ang mga payo habang lumalabas ang mga ulat ng mga pag-atake sa mga dayuhang mamamayan at kawani.
Nilusob ng mga armadong tauhan ang mga tahanan ng mga taong nagtatrabaho para sa UN at iba pang internasyonal na organisasyon sa downtown Khartoum, ayon sa mga ulat sa isang panloob na dokumento ng UN na nakita ng CNN.
Ayon sa dokumento, ang mga armadong lalaki ay sekswal na nanakit sa mga babae at nagnakaw ng mga gamit kabilang ang mga kotse. Isang insidente ng panggagahasa ang naiulat din. Ang mga armadong tauhan na ito, “na sinasabing mula sa RSF, ay pumapasok sa mga tirahan ng mga expat, pinaghihiwalay ang mga lalaki at babae at dinadala sila,” basahin ang ulat.
Ang CNN ay hindi nakapag-iisa na ma-verify ang mga pinaghihinalaang pag-atake. Itinanggi ng RSF ang mga pahayag, sinisisi ang sandatahang lakas ng Sudan sa paggawa ng mga krimen habang nakasuot ng mga uniporme ng RSF. Itinanggi ng sandatahang lakas ang pagkakasangkot sa mga paglabag, at inulit ang mga akusasyon na ang RSF ay nakagawa ng mga krimen laban sa sangkatauhan.
Sa magkahiwalay na insidente na binanggit sa dokumento, dalawang lalaking Nigerian na nagtatrabaho para sa isang internasyonal na organisasyon ang dinukot at kalaunan ay pinalaya; isang gusali na tinitirhan ang UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs; at isang rocket-propelled grenade ang tumama sa bahay ng isang lokal na kawani ng UN sa Khartoum.
Noong Miyerkules, sinabi ng medical charity na MSF na ang compound nito sa Nyala, South Darfur, ay ni-raid ng mga armadong lalaki na “nagnakaw ng lahat kabilang ang mga sasakyan at kagamitan sa opisina.”
“Ang aming bodega – na may hawak na mahahalagang medikal na suplay – ay ni-raid din, hindi namin alam kung hanggang saan dahil wala kaming access,” sabi ng MSF sa opisyal na Twitter account nito.
“Hinihiling namin muli ang paggalang sa proteksyon ng mga makataong organisasyon at ang kanilang mga lugar. Ang priority natin ngayon ay masiguro ang kaligtasan ng ating mga tauhan,” the post added.
Kasama sa iba pang mga insidente nitong mga nakaraang araw ang isang diplomatikong convoy ng US na pinaputukan, ang embahador ng EU sa Sudan na sinalakay sa kanyang residency sa Khartoum, at tatlong manggagawa mula sa World Food Program ng UN ang napatay sa mga sagupaan. — CNN
Five overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) were arrested in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates (UAE) following a complaint that was filed against a Tiktok video they posted.
According to a report from GMA News, the OFWs posted a video on TikTok on March 12 just for fun among friends. However, they had no idea that this will put them in jail.
A sibling of one of the arrested OFWs asked for help from the embassy after they were mistaken as prostitutes.
For their part, Migrant Workers Secretary Toots Ople said they are waiting for the schedule of the court hearings in Sharjah.
Ople noted that they already have a legal retainer to represent the rights of the 5 OFWs in court.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Embassy and Labor Attache in the UAE are scheduled to speak with the employers of the five OFWs and arranging a visit.
According to the cybercrime law of the UAE, they may be fined and imprisoned for five years.
“UAE is strictly implementing its cyberlaw and is also very sensitive to actions against their customs and morality. Iba ang kultura nila, so we have to be very, very respectful,” said Ople.
Further, Ople assured the families of the five OFWs that they will be monitoring the case and will contact them directly for updates.
MANILA, Philippines – Naghain ng resolusyon si Senador Raffy Tulfo upang suriin ang kasalukuyang polisiya ng pamahalaan patungkol sa minimum wage increase.
“The current minimum wage will not be able to sustain the living conditions of workers, and many workers are facing significant financial difficulties as a result and the issuance of an emergency wage order may be necessary to address these challenges,” pahayag ni Tulfo sa kanyang proposed Senate Resolution 476.
Sa naturang pagdinig, target busisiin ang naturang polisiya upang makatulong sa mga mamamayan na magkaroon ng maayos na pamumuhay, partikular na ang nasa lower income bracket.
Binanggit ni Tulfo sa kanyang resolusyon ang pinakahuling minimum wage increase noong Hunyo 4, 2022 kung saan ang rate ay nasa P533 hanggang P570 kada araw sa National Capital Region.
Samantala, umiral naman ang minimum wage increase sa mga probinsya mula Hunyo 6 hanggang Hunyo 30, 2022 sa rate na naglalaro sa P306 hanggang P470.
Sa kabila nito, sinabi ni Tulfo na dahil sa inflation na tumaas pa sa 8.7% nitong Enero 2023, magiging matindi ang epekto nito at mahihirapan ang mga manggagawa na tugunan ang kanilang pangangailangan sa kasalukuyang sahod.
“It is imperative to improve the standard of living and quality of life for workers, particularly those in the lower income bracket and to ensure that the policies on the minimum wage increase are fair, effective, and consistent with the needs of the workers and the economy,” ani Tulfo. RNT/JGC
KUWAIT CITY – The remains of slain Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) in Kuwait, Jullebee Cabilis Ranara will be finally flown home after Kuwaiti government authorities have allowed the release and shipment of the body to the Philippines.
Ranara, 34, married with four children whose charred body with smashed head and traces of alleged torture was found at the Salmi road in Kuwait on January 21, 2023 as reported by the Kuwait media.
Facebook: Ranara
Initial autopsy report showed that the victim was pregnant. The 17-year-old Kuwaiti suspect who confessed to the crime is now in jail.
Ranara arrived in Kuwait in July 2022 and worked as a household service worker for a Kuwaiti family in Jahra. According to the death certificate from the Kuwait Ministry of Health, Forensic Department, Ranara suffered fractures to the skull, face, lower jaw and brain laceration.
Death is attributed to injuries. Philippine Charge d’ Affaires to Kuwait Jose Cabrera III disclosed that arrangements have been made for the shipment of the body, which is expected to arrive in the Manila on Friday, January 27, 2023.
“The assistance of Kuwaiti government authorities in facilitating the release of the human remains of Ms. Ranara and allowing its shipment is greatly appreciated, especially since her return is much-awaited by her bereaved family,” stated Cabrera.
He added that upon arrival in the Philippines, government agencies concerned will assist the family of Ranara in claiming the remains and other arrangements afterwards. The Philippine Embassy in Kuwait is closely monitoring the case in coordination with Kuwaiti authorities.
It has also assigned a lawyer to take on the case of Ranara. “Forensic examination and analysis of evidence is still in process and the Embassy will request access to information on the results and findings when these have been completed and forwarded to the prosecution,” outlined Cabrera.
One person was injured and a vehicle was damaged yesterday (Thursday), when the wall of a building in Jeddah governorate collapsed.
The field teams of the civil defense in the governorate began the incident, where the injured were taken to the hospital to receive the necessary medical care.
Ibinunyag ni Senador Raffy Tulfo ang mga bigating oil smuggler sa bansa matapos ang kanyang consultation meeting sa Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) at Bureau of Customs (BOC).
Kinilala ni Tulfo, chairman ng Senate energy committee, ang mga smuggler na sina Don Rabonza, Sonny Qiu, Jackie Chu , Aron Uy, at Lyndon Tan na nag-o-operate sa Batangas at Sariaya, Quezon at Alex Chua, Bogs Violago, Jong Mangudadatu at Dondon Alahas na nag-o-operate naman sa Mariveles, Bataan.
Kinastigo naman ni Tulfo ang mga mataas na opisyal na hindi dumalo sa ipinatawag niyang consultation meeting at sa halip ay ipinadala na lamang ang “cannon fodder” BOC Special agent II Anthony Escandor para sagutin ang kanyang mga katanungan.
Sinabi ni Escandor kay Tulfo na hindi kilala ang mga taong binanggit nito.
“You (Escandor) are not the right person to be here. I want to see the (BOC) Commissioner (Yogi Felimon L. Ruiz),” ani Tulfo.
Sa pagdinig ng Senate agriculture committee noong Miyerkules, kinuwestiyon ang pagkabigo ni Ruiz pagkabigo nilang dumalo at tumestigo sa nasisirang industriya ng asin sa bansa.
Sabi ni Tulfo, hihilingin sa Senate blue ribbon committee na imbestigahan pa ang talamak na oil at gasoline smuggling at ipatawag ang mga oil smuggler.
“It is sad that the Customs bureau allows big-time smugglers to go their merry way but is strict on the small fishes,” ani Tulfo. (Dindo Matining)
MANILA, Philippines – Inihayag ng Bureau of Customs nitong Huwebes, Enero 19 na hindi ito magsasampa ng kaso laban sa mga flight crew members na nahuling nag-uuwi ng mga hindi deklaradong agriculture products bilang pasalubong.
“Pagka doon naman sa pagkakaso, sa ngayon wala pong ganon,” ani BOC spokesperson and Customs Operation chief Arnaldo Dela Torre Jr. sa televised public briefing.
Matatandaan na noong Enero 10, 10 flight crew members ang nahuling may dala-dalang mga sibuyas, lemon at strawberry mula Riyadh, Saudi Arabia at Dubai, United Arab Emirates nang walang kaukulang permit.
Sa kabila nito, sinabi ng BOC na hindi ito magsasampa ng reklamo ngunit maaaring gumawa umano sila ng aksyon kaugnay sa ginawa ng mga crew.
Nauna nang sinabi ng Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) na maaaring humarap sa disciplinary sanctions ang mga sangkot sa insidente.
“‘Yun pong legal na action na gagawin ng BOC at ng quarantine office ay with regards po doon sa behavior, doon sa pagkakataon o insidente na kung saan ay merong hindi magandang nangyari po. ‘Yun po yung legal na action,” ani Dela Torre. RNT/JGC
Storya Ni Juan Official 