Group tags SKorea, KSA as worst places for OFWs

[hfl]

MARK JOSEPH H. UBALDE, GMANews.TV
10/23/2008


MANILA, Philippines - South Korea’s notoriety for weeding out union-forming migrant workers and Saudi Arabia’s reputation for beheading Filipinos make the two countries the worst destination for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

This was the statement of the Solidarity Action of Labor Against GFMD (Global Forum on Migration and Development) or Salag on Thursday as they protested in front of the two embassies in Makati City.

Salag includes the Labor Alliance for Better Order and Reform (LABOR), the different public sector federations affiliated with the Public Services International, and the Solidarity of Union and Labor Organization for New Government (Sulong).

About 160 members of Salag trooped first to the South Korean Embassy in Gil Puyat Ext. corner Makati Avenue at around 9 a.m. to voice out their disgust over the government’s harsh treatment against migrant workers who assemble to assert their labor rights.

Jilian Roque, Salag spokesperson, told GMANews.TV that the authorities in South Korea repress movements to form unions in factories and other establishments.

“Documented and undocumented OFWs are often subjected to brutal arrests and deportations when found guilty of organizing unions," she said.

The group then marched to the Saudi Arabian Embassy on De la Costa St. where they trumpeted their call to end the various atrocities and injustices accorded to Filipino workers.

According to the group the oil-rich kingdom remains as the “nightmare of OFWs" because they are treated as virtual slaves.

“The country remains to be infamous in terms of trafficking, contract substitutions, passport confiscation, excessive workload, poor pay, torture and physical and sexual abuses of migrant workers," the group said in a statement.

Since the 1970s, Saudi Arabia has been the top destination of OFWs where some 900,000 Filipinos are working today.

Thursday's rallies were held in the run-up to the 2nd Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD), which will be held in Manila from October 27 to 30.

Roque said a bigger protest action on Oct 27 would be organized by various migrant workers’ groups all over the world to denounce the abuses to all foreign workers.

About 5,000 participants from different countries are expected to hold a picket at the Rajah Sulayman Park in Roxas Boulevard, Manila.

Roque did not mention if the rally would push through despite the revocation of their permit to use the Rajah Sulayman Park on the recommendation of the Manila Police District.

“Instead of labor export policy, the government should prioritize creation of decent jobs in the country. Further, it must zero in on human and workers rights. There can be no development if human and workers rights continue to be violated," the group said.

The GFMD is an annual international conference on migration and development issues, following the High Level Dialogue on Migration organized by the United Nations (UN) in New York in September 2006.

The Philippines was unanimously chosen by participating countries to host the 2nd GFMD from Oct. 27-30 after Brussels, Belgium hosted the first forum last year.

It is also the first and only Asian country so far invited to host the event. - GMANews.TV

[bbong1]

No kidding. Don't know about Saudi Arabia but I can't imagine there is any place that is worse than South Korea for OFWs.

[dodong]

I happen to have worked in Korea and a few other countries. Sadly I have to agree with you

[dreamin]

Saudi Arabia? Of course that's true, the worst place to work. Except of course if your employed in Saudi Aramco where they treat its employee professionally.

[Gino]

I'm an OFW based in KSA. I must admit that in this country, being under the Monarchial form of government, laws are harsh and at times prejudicial to some of our hapless 'kababayans' especially the DH. But honestly, this is just my opinion, some of the OFW's who were either sentenced to execution or those who are in jail are those who really violated the law in the Kingdom. Some Filipinos I heard are the ones running wine distilleries, others were caught having illegitimate affair (which is a big NO here in KSA), others are running gambling operations and the most common scenarios here are the homosexuals (though not all) engaged in a homosexual relations with Saudis, and more often than not, ended in a not so happy ending story.

I mean if you are here in KSA or any part of the world, you must ask yourself the first question, "Why am I here?, Am I here to work for the good of my family or to to do otherwise? Am I here to gamble, to womanize or to engage in other detestable acts. If an OFW can answer that question tactfully and without a doubt, then he definetly knows what to do and how to behave--Goal setting that is.

While there were cases of abuses commited by the OFWs employers especially in the case of our hapless maids. I will generalize it for once and for all, middle east is not a safe HAVEN for filipina domestic helpers and let's agree on that whether you like it or not.Do not be misled by false hopes that you can be well here. Work as a maid instead in our own country and do not sacrifice your dignity and the honor of your family in exchange of few riyals, dirhams and dinars. I read an online story about a pretty woman who used to work as a Saleslady in a department store in the Philippines. She applied for a domestic helper in the middle east and when her prospective employer saw her picture from her CV, the employer opted to visit the Philippines to meet her personally. It may seem very intriguing but when the Filipina was there in the employment agency, she was given unsolicited advice by a fellow OFW who happens to be in the same agency to reconsider her plan of going abroad. Fortunately, the filipina heeded the advise and left the place without anymore seeing her employer.

These are just some of the many instances of OFW's bitting the bullet.However POEA statistics will show otherwise that despite tha alarming cases of unfortunate incidents abroad were most of the OFWs, either being kidnapped by pirates while at sea or being beheaded by the host conutries, still the trend of Filipino migration or those lost souls seeking opportunities outside remains growing. Simply because the situation is much worse in the Philippines. I dont want to sound unpatriotic but the truth is, I love our country as much as I love my family. I used to condemed the pathetic situation of brain drain in the country and blamed Filipino professionals like the nurses, engineers and teachers until I experienced taking my own dosage of medicine. Leaving our country and my family to work abroad is bitter pill to swallow. But what place is worse than a country who can't even provide a decent opportunity for their very own citizen?, but instead takes pride in admitting to be a country, inafamous for exporting labor abroad whose remittances by the way is the only thing that breaths hope to our ailing economy. Where people in the government still have the audacity to go on a foreign trips guise as 'observation trips and conventions' at the expense of taxpayers' money. Now, can anybody tell me, what place is more pathetic than our very own country?

I love the Philippines and I always will. For now, I will remain hopeful that maybe someday,an opportunity to work in a place where my heart is --my family and my country. But until such opportunity is no where to be found, I will still remain in a a place away from home where only the braves of all souls survive.

[basura]

I Presently Working In South Korea As A Factory Worker But Im Leaving Soon To Our Country For Personal Reason.

My Experience In South Korea Is So Nice And Wonderful,the Work Are So Very Easy Until I Become Bored,because Im Not Used To Easy Working,im A Hard Working Person.

The Koreans Are So Very Nice,honest,helpful And So Friendly To Me.

The Foods Are So Wonderful,a Lot Of Vegetables A Really Healthy Diet,it Makes Me More Energetic And Healthier.

The Salary Are Also Great,equivalent To A Salary Of A Cabinet Level Position In Our Governtment.

The Infrastracture For Business And Leisure Are The Best.

Pc Bangs Or Internet Cafe Are Of Abundance,internet Connections Are Affordable.

Korean Girls Are So Friendly,lovely And Beautiful.

My Only Hardship In Korea Are My Fellow Filipino,winter Season And The Korean Language,because Only Few Korean Can Understand And Can Speak English.my Fellow Filipino Worker Here Are Trouble Maker,they Cause Me A Lot Of Troubles.
Sila Ang Kaunaunahang Manloloko,maninira At Mangagago Syo,kaya Advice Ko Sa Mga Bagong Dating Na Pinoy Dito Sa Korea,based On My Experiencesmag-ingat Sa Kapwa Pinoy.

Kya I Dont Agree Na Worst Ang Korea Among Ofw,para Sa Akin Pinas Ang Worst Place To Work

[dodong]

Man, are you sure you are talking about Korea?

I have also stayed in Korea long enough to make comments. I have to say Korea has the most boring food, and Korean people are the most ignorant compared to other people in East Asia.

And, damn! I hate to say this, but I really don't understand why people would think the flat pan cake faces are beautiful.

Guess people are different. I am glad you enjoyed Korea. I wish I could but I suffered big time there and I would rather be out of job than go back to Korea.

I exchanged my view with not only Filipinos, but also business people from other Asian and western countries. The common conclusion is that Korea is just a horrible place for foreigners.

[Gino]

In my opinion, its really hard to compare an orange to an apple. I'm sure what's good for one may be bad for others for were using different yard stick. Well, I guess we jaust have to live it as it is.
For me, worst place is anyplace or any country that doesn't have any opportunity to work.

[suferman]

Just browsing most of the forums and it catches my attention regarding worst place to work...

Lets go back to one line in the post ... " MANILA, Philippines - South Korea’s notoriety for weeding out union-forming migrant workers and Saudi Arabia’s reputation for beheading Filipinos make the two countries the worst destination for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs)."

What makes a country worst nightmare to one or more... may come to a surprise liking of one or more...

I have been in and out of Korea (not employment) biztrip c/o my company in KSA and i would say... if you cannot adopt to korean style it could make your life hell.. i have my share of frustration too. But again its not Pinas ung saan kabisado natin ang pasikot sikot... so we have to be open minded sa mga pagkakataon na hindi umaakma sa ating paniniwala... most pinoy i have met in korea express both the negative and positive aspect of working and living in Korea...

My opinion lang po... if Korea is not the place for you then why go there? If employment is what you seek then adjust our sense of view toward the country kung iyon ang patakaran then so be it....

The same holds TRUE in Saudi.... SAUDI is an ISLAMIC country lahat ng labag sa kanilang paniniwala at kautusan sa kanilang KORAN ay binibigyan nila ng kaparusahan...

It does not hold true na Saudi has the reputation of beheading pinoy's only... i think the guy who wrote it should have a wider view of whats going on in saudi...

Its not only pinoy's are being beheaded... halos sa ginagawang pamumugot ng saudi goverment bihira nga ang pinoy na pinupugutan... nagiging maalingawngaw lang pag pinoy dahil sa balita sa pinas... natural nandyan ang mg NGO na nagpapapogi sa media, mga politokong nangangako ng kung ano ano... at etc...

Una madalas mapugutan ng ulo ay mga SAUDI... (Sodomiya / Rape / murder ang mga kaso), Pakistan ( mostly droga ang kasalanan pero meron ding murder tulad nitong huling balita pinatay ng asawang babae ang asawa na dahil pera ang dahilan.) mga ibang lahi Indian, Sudani, etc..

Yan ang totoo dahil bilangin an natin ang pinugutan ng ulo sa isang taon minsan wala pa ang pinoy... pero ano nga ba ang kasalanan ng pinoy??? (kailangan pa bang bangitin??? dahil kung ano ang kinagisnan sa Pinas ay syang dinadala sa Saudi... bow!!!)

Ngayon... sa isang OFW na tulad natin hindi ba bago tayo tumulak papuntang sa bansang kung saan tayo magtrabaho di ba sinasabi na sa atin sa seminar o nabalitaan sa ibang ofw kung ano ang kultura at batas nila...

Kung hindi natin gusto ang pamamalakad nila bakit natin pipilitin na baguhin nila ang kanilang kinagisnan alang aang saan? sa atin?... mukhang mahirap di po ba?

Kung sa ating bansa naman natin ikukumpara di ba nga nagaaway away at nagpapatayan ang mga sundalo ng gobyerno at mga rebelde dahil gusto ng rebelde ang ganito o ganoon at ayaw nman ng gobyerno mabago ang batas na umiiral sa pinas...

So know the place kung saan natin gusto magtrabaho alamin kung okay go ahead make your day... kung ayaw mo nman humanap ka ng iba...

Better late than never... gamitin natin sa huling pagkakataon ang common sense bago tayo magsisi sa huli...

OPINYON KO LANG PO... KUNG UMAYON KAU SALAMAT PO AT KUNG HINDI NMAN SALAMAT DIN PO AT BINASA NYO ANG POSTING KO...