We often hear complaints about overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the Middle East whose mobile phones have been confiscated. That is why OFWs who have learned their lesson bring two mobile phones with them. If their employers confiscate their phone, they have a spare one to use in times of emergency.
But Judith who is currently working in Saudi Arabia has a different complaint: Her employer changed the language setting of her phone so she could not use it.
This was the message sent by Odette Constantino on the Facebook account of Bantay OCW regarding her sister, Judith de Leus: “We’re seeking help for our sister Judith who’s working in Jeddah. She was forbidden to use her mobile phone. One time her employer took it and changed its language setting.”
Judith’s’ Arabian employers abuse her (both husband and wife). Whenever they go out, they lock her inside the house. She also has no day off. She has to clean two houses, and whenever her relatives call her, they have to go through one of her employers first. She was threatened that if she was caught her using her mobile phone, her employers would confiscate it.
She doesn’t go out of the house because she has no day off, and she’s scared because her male employer always threatens to harm her.
Odette added, “We’re worried that our communication would be cut off because when she uses her mobile phone she has to hide in the comfort room. She’s also scared because her employer abuses her. She wants to come home and she informed the Fil-Expat Placement Agency, Inc. that sent her there. The agency would promise to find a way (to send her home) but afterwards they would advise her to finish her contract instead. She has young children and we pity them because they can’t even talk to their mother.”
It’s sad to think that there are OFWs like Judith who are treated like slaves. She cannot concentrate and perform well on her household work. It’s torture.
Bantay OCW informed the office of Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz about this complaint through Labor Attaché David Des Dicang, who is currently dispatched to Ukraine to assist our OFWs there. Dicang called and assured Bantay OCW that he would closely monitor Judith’s case.
Hall of Fame awardee
After five consecutive years of being awarded as “Best Public Service Program,” Bantay OCW was elevated to the Hall of Fame during the 12th Gawad Tanglaw, which was held in San Juan de Letran in Calamba, Laguna.
This is the 6th and last award of Bantay OCW from Gawad Tanglaw. We express our deepest gratitude to the judges of Gawad Tanglaw especially to Dr. Romeo Flaviano Lirio.
We would like to dedicate this award to our OFWs worldwide, and to our partners past and present, whose support has helped bring this service to our overseas workers.
Most especially, our deepest gratitude to the Inquirer group: The Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inquirer Bandera, Inquirer Radio and www.inquirer.net, the official partners of Bantay OCW.
Susan Andes, also known as Susan K., can be heard over Inquirer Radio dzIQ 990 AM, Monday to Friday, 10:30 a.m.-12:00 noon. Audio/video live streaming at www.ustream.tv/channel/dz iq. Helplines: 0927-6499870 /0920-9684700. E-mail: ban tayocwfoundation@yahoo. com/susankbantayocw@yahoo.com