Filipinos celebrate Labor Day in Middle East
abs-cbnNEWS.com | 05/10/2009 4:05 PM
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Simple yet meaningful Labor Day celebrations were observed by Filipinos working in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.
In Kuwait, the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) marked Labor Day by awarding outstanding OFWs and Filipino community leaders, manpower recruitment agencies and POLO and embassy staff for the important contributions they have made for the workers.
“Para sa akin, ako ay naliligayahan. I'm very proud of the Filipinos here. I salute all the Filipinos in Kuwait. Mabuhay ang manggagawang Pilipino!,” said Labor Attaché, Atty. Josephus Jimenez
POLO also recognized outstanding foreign and Philippine recruitment agencies and top 20 Kuwaiti employers.
“I’m more than happy to share and celebrate with the Filipino community in this opportunity--the Labor Day. I am from a recruiting agency from Kuwait. It’s my duty to thank and appreciate all the Filipino good and hard-workers here. I am looking for more constructive cooperation with our co-partner in the Philippines, with the embassy,” said Abdulaziz Al-Ali, chairman of the Kuwait Union of Domestic Labor Offices.
Plaques of appreciation were also handed out to the staff of POLO and Assistance to Nationals Unit of the Philippine Embassy for continuing to serve around 14,000 OFWs based in Kuwait.
“I hope this day, we will encourage our workers who are quite well-off to think about the plight of our distressed OFWs and the need for greater protection para sa kanila,” Ambassador Ricarod Endaya said.
“Sa mga recruiters and employers, I hope this will awaken their concern para i promote ang welfare at well-being ng mga manggagawang Pilipino dito sa Kuwait,” he added.
Support group
Meanwhile, In Damman, Saudi Arabia, Filipino workers who have labor cases filed in Saudi courts formed a group called “Labor for Poor”.
The group aims to serve as support and assistance group to workers, who often suffer from sleepless nights, fatigue and hunger, with work-related cases.
Most of the time, workers who attend hearings in the Saudi Labor Court lacked the financial assistance for their transportation, food and accommodation when following up their cases. This prompted the group to send a petition to the embassy to better help them with their cases.
The group appeals to the Philippine government to increase embassy personnel assisting labor cases.
"Mayroon naman pong tumutulong sa amin kaya lang po nag-iisa siya. Sa dami po namin, halos hindi na po maasistihan," Fidel Jison said.
RP government support
They also urge the government to provide OFWs facing court cases with free and temporary shelters, food and transportation.
Jison has yet to be paid his six month of work salary as a mechanic. But because he could not read Arabic, it took him a while before he could file a complaint against his employer. In the end, it was his employer who lodged a case against him.
Driver Ricardo Pena tried to hold back his emotions when he recounted how he and his fellow OFWs survive in Damman while following up on their cases. His case has reportedly dragged on for more than one year.
"Kung saan-saan lang kami napupunta sa Dammam. Saan kami makakakain, makakatulog. Yan lang ang aming hinihiling sa ating gobyerno na matulungan kami sa aming mga problema dito," said Pena.
Pena said his case stemmed from a vehicular accident. His employers insisted that he pay for the damaged vehicle which would cost around 27,000 riyals or around P350,000.
The group of OFWs also thanked the Filipino community like the Filipino Workers Worldwide (FWW) for extending their support to distressed workers.
"Sa mga nanghihinang kagaya nila, kailangan natin bigyan pansin dahil hindi lang lahat sa moral at pinansiyal nakikita ito," saod FWW acting president Rene Cabangan.
A Filipino who was the 2008 Bagong Bayani awardee empathized with the OFWs. Rolando Ocampo lauded the group of distressed OFWs for their strength and courage to still help others in need.
“Nagtutulungan sila sa isa't-isa," said Ocampo. With reports from Maxxy Santiago and Dinan Arana, ABS-CBN Middle East News Bureau
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