PINOY BAN in mid-east

[estor_boot]

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OFW ban in Gulf states fails to gather support

By DINDO AMPARO
ABS-CBN Middle East News Bureau chief

The ban on Filipino workers proposed by a group of manpower agencies in the Middle East has failed to muster support from labor officials of member states in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

The proposed ban was hatched in response to the new reform package for Filipino workers. According to the package, the salary of domestic workers will be pegged at $400 per month.

Philippine Labor Secretary Antonio Brion said that officials of GCC member states are apparently not bent on boycotting Filipinos.

In fact, he said that countries like Saudi Arabia will be needing more Filipino workers in the future.

“I understand that they expect [a construction boom] in the next eight or 10 years, and this will involve a lot of construction workers.�

Brion said the governments of the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Kuwait and Qatar have expressed support to the new reform package for overseas Filipino workers.

"These are, I think, firm indications from the governments in the Gulf estates that the demand of the recruitment agencies is not being heeded."

Brion, however, admitted that manpower agencies in the Middle East are now eyeing countries like Indonesia and Sri Lanka as their next source of domestic helpers, in which the salary rate is much lower.

He said the Philippine government will not bemoved, adding that the quality of Filipino workers is much higher than those from other countries.

"So I told them that if they feel we are rendering quality service, and that the employers are after our domestic helpers because of this service, then we should get the salary these kind of service deserves."


http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=81672

[LytSlpr]

with that development, then i say they should push through with the proposed wage hike as long as it is justifiable and within bounds but they should also understand the risks and face the possible consequences.

i don't think the arabs have an option. who are they gonna hire? the chinese? the indians? i don't think so.

[miramax]

Thanks to OMAD for posting some of the leads.

To add, here's a few helpful related links to follow:
http://www.qatarliving.com/node/17356

And on a positive note...

http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/arc_A...&IssueID=30099

Actually, all these banning issues started to flicker due to the "increment thing" on Filipino domestic workers remuneration package inflicted on the new regulations issued by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) which was partially took effect on December 15, 2006, was fully implemented beginning March 1, 2007 pegged the minimum salary for Filipino domestic workers, including stay-in care givers, at $400, up from $200.
Foreign employers are also required to sign a declaration stipulating they would pay a fine of around $13 a day if they do not pay their Filipino workers on time and at the prescribed rate spelled out in the labor contract.
Being an OFW working in the Middle East this doesn't offers as single iota of benefit to all of us here.
Not until, our POEA or other concerned government agencies would perform their task well with sincerity, to protect and assist us (OFW) rightfully equal on our basic legal needs/requirements.
If not, then, this is just another circus show from our government which had created a negative impact on Filipino workers in GCC countries.
Arab leaders do understand the real game here; our Philippine government is using the issue as a political tool in its recent general election.

AN EYE-OPENER

I just traveled a couple of months ago from P.I. heading to gulf. At the immigration dept. cue I met a group of Filipina youngsters, naïve looking ones, Out of curiosity; I asked one of them, where are they bound to? The lady said they're heading to Kuwait,then I said , what kind of job? She replied, we're all going to work as housemaids, to my surprise, (as to my knowledge the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait had stopped the issuance of job orders for domestic workers) I ask them if I can check their contracts, Upon checking their contracts which was stamped officially by POEA I learned that this group of young ladies aged 14 (a minor/ an under-age and does not qualify on the Philippine labor age bracket requirements) to 19 are under one employer, bearing a name of a cleaning company in the said country, It is evident that they were being hired illegally.