ILOILO City – The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) is calling on overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from Western Visayas to educate their family members about the nature of their jobs, the names of their Philippine recruitment agencies, and their employment dates among other details.
These information can help streamline the processes for families seeking assistance from OWWA when needed, explained OWWA Region 6 officer-in-charge Rizza Joy Moldes.
This OWWA appeal is in response to difficulties faced when family members of OFWs request assistance but lack crucial employment details.
“Often, families are not aware of the name of the Philippine recruitment agency or when their loved ones were deployed. Our first point of contact when something happens to OFWs is their families to gather information, but sometimes they cannot provide what we need because they are not fully knowledgeable about the employment details,” Moldes lamented.
As of September 3, 2024, there are 453,188 registered OFWs, both land-based and sea-based, from the region, data from OWWA-6 showed.
Moldes said the common cases so far reported by OFWs to OWWA-6 were the following:
* contract violations (265)
* health / medical problems (227)
* passport withholding including mobile phones, documentation (174)
* physical / verbal abuse (155)
* unpaid / delayed salaries, back wages, end of service and other employee benefits (151)
* long hours of work (139)
* contract substitution / contract reprocessing / illegal transfer to another employer (60)
* financial support (45)
* whereabouts/missing (36)
* other immigration-related issues (33)
* mental stress, anxiety, depression (23)
* illegal deductions from salaries (20)
* occupational illness (20); and
* sexual abuse / assault / molestation / harassment (16).
A significant number of complaints originated from Saudi Arabia, revealed Moldes.
“The process of repatriating distressed OFWs can sometimes be delayed due to differences in labor laws, lack of cooperation from employers, or legal issues preventing them from leaving the host country,” added Moldes.
In 2023, 323 OFWs from the region were repatriated due to these issues, and so far in 2024, the number has risen to 597.
Moldes encourages OFWs facing problems with their employers abroad not to hesitate in seeking help through OWWA’s hotline numbers or by visiting their offices located at Robinson Place Iloilo City. Ensuring the safety and successful employment of OFWs abroad remains a priority for the agency, said Moldes./PN
