OFW FAMILY Party-List 1st nominee Roy Señeres, Jr. at DOLE speaking for and on behalf of Saudi Oger group, seeking their long-standing claims and end-of-service benefits.
MANILA, Philippines — The Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) Family partylist will continue its push for the abolition of the “exploitative” Kafala system that has been affecting the lives of Filipino domestic helpers in the middle east.
Party nominee Roy Señeres Jr. said the scheme long being observed in the Middle East has put Filipino domestic helpers “in their most vulnerable situation.”
“Ang common the problema na naexperience ng womenfolk there working as domestic workers ay yung maltreatment, specifically yung trato sa kanila ng employer kung saan natatapakan ang dignidad nila as human beings,” said Señeres. “Kasi ang trato sa kanila base sa kultura ay sad to say ay commodity. Ang mentalidad ng employer doon ay ang laki ng binayaran ko sa yo so ang trato sa kanila ay slave o commodity.”
“Pagkatapos labhan ang damit namin at linisan ang ilang palapag, punta kayo sa bahay ng kapatid ko para maglinis doon na walang concern.”
Señeres said that sometimes employers would resort to physical abuse whenever the domestic helpers complain.
“Nadyan na rin ang mga storya ng panggagahasa, violation of their honor. ‘Yun po ang mga bagay na kailangan ng tutok,” he said.
The scheme also puts the employer as the sponsor who has power over the immigration status and visa of the migrant worker.
Thus, the workers cannot leave without their employers’ consent.
OFW FAMILY Party-List 1st nominee Roy Señeres, Jr. assisting victims of illegal recruitment at the OFW Family Club Head Office in Malate, Manila.
“Kailangan nating mabuwag at maparating sa foreign countries in whatever way we can, particularly sa international platforms para iremind sila na ang sistemang ito ay modern day slavery,” said Señeres.
“Gagamitin natin ang kakayahan sa House of Representatives to remind our friends in the national government… to pull everybody together in the international community and strike down this modern day slavery.”
The OFW Family Partylist, which is again joining the national polls this May, was founded by Señeres’ father and namesake, the late Ambassador Roy Señeres Sr.