OFW Journals (OFW Stories on the News) and Some OFW Employment, Career & Business Tips

When the government imposed that all Filipino domestic helpers be given the salary of $400, i thought that this is a much needed shot in the arm for this segment of the wider overseas Filipino workers.

Naturally, the Kuwaitis reacted strongly. The recruitment agencies here were in the forefront of the protests with appeals for the Phil. government to implement the order gradually or altogether repeal it. Its bad for their business, i understand. The Pinays have such a
great demand because they do their work dutifully, hygienic, and obedient. Our embassy didn’t move an inch. An order is an order.

So they retaliated by ceasing to recruit Filipino maids. Who would pay a DH KWD120? Staff at some fast food chains here receive less than a hundred dinars. Otherwise they have to comply with the order.

However, there are many ways to skin a cat, so they say. Recently, I was able to assist an OFW who applied in Manila as a skilled worker but landed here as a domestic helper. This is her story:

Imelda C., in her late 30s, hails from Sultan Kudarat province in Central Mindanao. She is a freelance journalist and a former campaign worker for Senatoriable Prospero Pichay, who lost in the last elections. She also used to be an aide of Sen. Robert Barbers. Aside from these, she is also a proficient massage therapist, a talent she honed while working before in a Bangkok spa owned by her sister, who was married to a Thai. Another sister is working here in Kuwait as a
nurse. She could not resist the appeal of becoming an OFW again.

A few months ago, she submitted her application papers to MMML Recruitment Services, Inc. in Manila as a massage therapist. She underwent an interview by the employer, who turned out to be the owner of a recruitment agency here in Kuwait. Afterwards, she was sent by the agency for medical exam at the American Outpatient Clinic (American Hospital, Inc.) located in the 2nd floor of FEMI Bldg, A. Soriano Ave., Intramuros,Manila. She passed the interview and ruled
by the clinic Fit to Work. When everything was alright, she was told by the agency to just wait for their call. So she went home to Cotabato.

A few months later, an agency called her and was told to report to Manila. Her visa from Kuwait arrived already and that she has to undergo a pre-departure orientation seminar. Imelda was perplexed, it was not the agency that she applied with and that interviewed and sent her for medical. Maybe they got it wrong, she thought.This agency is Al-Shiera International Manpower Services, Inc. and the caller insisted that she is indeed the one they are looking for according to the visa that they received. She was also informed that she is recruited as a Fast Food Manager. Imelda insisted that she applied for a massage therapist, not a Fast Food Manager. So the
employee admitted that “ipinasa po yung papers nyo sa amin.”

Despite the uncertainty, she flew to Manila. She entertained the fact that because she told the interviewer that she also had a restaurant experience long time ago, they considered her for a much higher position. On the 12th of April 2007, Imelda attended a Pre-Departure
Orientation Seminar conducted by Fil-Mus Foundation, Inc. located at J.P. Laurel Memorial Foundation Bldg., M.H. del Pilar cor Pedro Gil St., Ermita , Manila. (She showed me her PDOS Certificate of Participation and indeed, it stated …”As Fast Food Manager bound for Kuwait recruited by Alshiera International Manpower Services Inc.)

On the night of June 25 i received a call from Imelda’s sister, who is a colleague at the hospital I am working at. Imelda would be arriving at 6 AM the following day on board Kuwait Airways and she asked me to accompany her to fetch her sister but i politely declined because I would finish my night duty at 7 AM. She went there by taxi.

After two days, she called me again. “I need your help…” she said, sounding very worried and troubled…” my sister ran away from her employer!” From her voice, i could sense that something is wrong. I wondered why would she ran from her employer when she is a Fast Food
Manager. It would be logical if she ran away or absconded from her company. I would later know that Al Shiera International processed Imelda’s paper on the strength of a job order signed between her and the supposed employer, Sameer Saeed & Yousef Nadoum General Trading
Company with address in Shuwaikh Industrial Area 3, Block 3, Street 2 in the State of Kuwait. The master contract was verified and signed by Labor Attache Leopoldo de Jesus on March 27, 2007. I went to the Philippine Embassy and met with Imelda and her sister.

Imelda recounted her ordeal and what she actually went through. Fully believing that she was deployed as a Fast Food manager with a salary of KD150, she got the shock of her life when they arrived at the airport in Kuwait. She was made to queue in a long line at the visa counter along with many domestic helpers of different nationalities. She still didn’t know why was she queueing there. All she did was to show the copy of an entry visa that she brought with her from Manila.

After five hours, they were herded to a van and brought to the office to wait for their employers. Hungry and still confused about her situation, she was trying to calm and comfort herself. She was sitting cross-legged in a chair when the Filipina secretary of the office, later identified as Jane Tacang, scolded her, “Huwag ka ngang umupo ng ganyan, para kang pok#*@!” Appalled at the crass vulgarity of a kababayan, she shot back and an argument ensued between the two.

Later, Imelda was told by the secretary to go with the driver to her employer’s house. “What house!?” she growled. Only now it dawned on her that she had been hired as a DOMESTIC HELPER! She was wondering in disbelief, “how come?” With Kuwait’s sizzling summer heat, she was driven to the house of the employer in a car with the airconditioning turned off. Deliberately, she thought, upon the instruction of the secretary as a punishment for answering back. She arrived at the home and introduced to her employer. When the first order to burn a coal
for the shisha or hubbly-bubbly that the employer wanted to smoke, the hard reality had set in — she is indeed a maid. She didn’t last for 24 hours.

Early morning the following day, she escaped. She showed me the entry visa in Arabic that she brought with her and it showed that her occupation is “khadim” or servant and that her employer is Muna Habib Ghuloom of Qadsiya, block 4. The recruitment agency in Kuwait that
hired her is Al Derbas Manpower Recruitment. I introduced Imelda and her sister to the Labor Attache, Pol de Jesus. After recounting what happened to her, and photocopying all pertinent documents in her possesion, Labatt de Jesus scribbled a note and attached it to her papers. We were asked to see Assistant Labor Attache Elmira Santo Domingo, who wasted no time in contacting the agency and processing the paperworks for Imelda so that she can be repatriated immediately.

According to the Section 15 of the Republic Act 8042, otherwise known as the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995, “…The repatriation of the worker and the transport of his personal belongings shall be the primary responsibility of the agency which recruited or deployed the worker overseas. All costs attendant to repatriation shall be borne by or charged to the agency concerned and/or its principal.”

ALA Sto. Domingo asked Al Derbas Agency to produce Imelda’s passport and provide a plane ticket but the agency deferred until the arrival of its owner. Five days later, the agency told the Labor Office that the owner is still in Indonesia. Imelda’s case file had been sent to the POEA, we were told, for appropriate action.

As of this writing, she is still at the Labor Office awaiting repatriation.

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