1,743 maltreatment cases on OFWs in 2019 - OWWA 12

KORONADAL CITY -The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) in Region 12 (Soccksargen) recorded at least 1,743 cases of abuses or maltreatment among Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) from the region last year.

Kristine Marie Sison, OWWA-12 officer-incharge, said Wednesday such cases were based on the complaints received by their office from January to December 2019 from concerned OFWs and their relatives.

Sison said maltreatment, underpayment of salaries and breach of contract were the most common cases cited in the complaints.

Sison said most of the cases involved domestic helpers or household service workers deployed in various countries in the

Middle East, among them Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

At least 622 cases involved OFWs from South Cotabato, 349 from Sarangani and this city, 345 from North Cotabato, 316 from Sultan Kudarat and 111 from other unspecified areas in the region.

The latest case was the death late last month of domestic helper Jeanelyn Villavende, 26, who was reportedly beaten to death by her female employer in Kuwait.

“Soccsksargen is one of the top regions in terms of deployment of workers to the Middle East that’s why most of the problems are concentrated there,” Sison said in an interview.

She said the agency has been regularly monitoring the conditions of OFWs in coordination with the Philippine Overseas La

bor Offices (POLO) of the Philippine embassies and consulates.

The agency also coordinates with the local employment agencies of the concerned workers for additional assistance, she said.

Sison advised OFWs and their relatives to immediately report to their office and the Public OFW Desk Officers of local government units in case they encounter problems with their employers.

The official urged those who are planning to work abroad to be extra careful and prepare the right documents.

“You have to be alert and scrutinize your documents. Make sure that they are properly executed by OWWA and validated by POEA (Philippine Overseas Employment Administration),” Sison said.