CAPIZ – A 30-year-old overseas Filipino worker (OFW) from this province has returned home after enduring months of abuse at the hands of her employers and receiving little to no support from her recruitment agency while working in Saudi Arabia.
The victim, identified by the alias “May,” is a resident of Barangay Cabanghan, Panitan town. She was recruited by two individuals known only by their aliases, “Mimi” and “Carla,” and was referred to Jinhel International Recruitment Corporation in Makati. She left the country on July 8, 2024, hopeful for a better future abroad.
Upon her arrival in Saudi Arabia, May was assigned to her first employer, where she was reportedly forced to serve 14 different households. She was then transferred to a second employer in Dammam, where she endured further mistreatment and only lasted a month and a half before being removed.
May’s situation worsened after being relocated by her agency to Riyadh, where she allegedly suffered various forms of abuse. May stated that she was nearly molested by her male employer, beaten by the female employer, and publicly humiliated, including being forcibly stripped while being mocked. She also claimed a police officer, known to the employers, hit her with a cap and intimidated her.
Her personal belongings were thrown out, and her cellphone was confiscated to prevent her from seeking help or contacting her family. Despite repeated pleas, her agency reportedly ignored her complaints, branding her as “dramatic.” She also expressed her frustration over the lack of support from fellow OFWs, which added to her feelings of helplessness and isolation.
May was finally able to return home on July 9, 2025 through the assistance of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO). She traveled independently to Roxas City, where she was reunited with her family.
May has expressed her intent to file formal complaints against her former employers and recruitment agency, hoping to seek justice and raise awareness of the plight many OFWs still face abroad./PN
