MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / Nov. 22, 2012) – A Filipino migrants’ rights group called Migrante-Middle East has Manila to clarify reports whether the ban on the deployment of household service workers to Saudi Arabia has been lifted or not.
John Leonard Monterona, the group’s regional coordinator, said they received a lot of queries both from vacationing Filipino household workers and those who wanted to work in Saudi whether Manila lifted the ban or not.
“There is confusion because according to the vacationing HSWs and applicants, their recruitment agencies were saying the ban had been lifted, but the POEA is saying otherwise,” Monterona said.
POEA refers to Philippine Overseas Employment Administration.
Monterona said a Filipina who is applying as household service worker in Saudi was told by her Philippine recruitment agency that the ban had been lifted, but POEA said it was not.
Manila halted the deployment of domestic helpers to Saudi after it rejected a new Philippine law pegging the basic salary of household service workers at $400, among other requirements.
But in September, Saudi’s Ambassador to the Philippines announced that the Saudi and Philippine governments had already reached an agreement to resume the deployment of household service workers (HSWs) to Saudi Arabia.
Last month, the POEA issued Memorandum Circular No. 08 outlining the ‘New Guidelines on the POLO accreditation and POEA Regulation of Saudi Recruitment Agencies Hiring Filipino HSWs Bound for Saudi Arabia. POEA also announced that all HSWs, vacationing and those who are awaiting deployment will be covered by a New Standard Employment Contract.
“We came to know that the processing of SEC had been suspended by the POEA, and due to this suspension, POLO offices in Saudi Arabia refused to process the Balik-Mangagawa clearances or OECs of vacationing HSWs,” Monterona said.
POLO refers to the Philippine Overseas Labor Office.
Monterona, citing POEA records, said there were at least 12,000 Filipino domestic helpers deployed in 2010.
“There are at least 12,000 HSWs who want to come home after completion of their contract; but there could be more maybe around 30,000 OFWs in Saudi Arabia who can’t come home because of the suspension of the HSWs standard employment contract by the POEA.”
“The Aquino government as a labor exporting country that rely heavily on OFWs remittances, through the DoLE and POEA, is really pressing for the lifting of the Saudi ban on HSWs while hypocritically announcing to the public that in 5-year time it will stop sending HSWs is at a dilemma amid the numerous cases of abuses and labor rights violations,” Monterona said.
He said the government should intensify its efforts to engage OFW-receiving governments to adhere on international labor standards and sign or ratify international instruments by passing laws and social legislations that recognize migrant rights and welfare.
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