Pang-aabuso sa OFWs sa Saudi, iimbestigahan ng Kongreso

Ni Charissa Luci

Iimbestigahan ng House of Representatives ang diumano’y pangmamaltrato sa ipinatapong Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) matapos ang “Saudization” policy at all-out crackdown sa illegal migrant.

Sinabi ni Akbayan party-list Rep. Walden Bello, chairman ng House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs, na magsasagawa ng imbestigasyon ang kanyang panel sa lahat ng mga isyung may kaugnayan sa Saudization policy sa Nobyembre 27.



“Despite being instrumental in running Saudi Arabia’s economy, the hundreds of thousands of foreign workers, especially the OFWs, are treated as an expendable resource by their government. Not even the slightest consideration was given to these workers who have toiled without complaint to build Saudi Arabia what into what it is today,” aniya sa isang pahayag.

“We will make sure that the welfare of OFWs affected by this policy will be top priority of the government,” paniniyak niya.

Inilunsad ang all-out crackdown sa mga illegal migrant matapos pumaso ang pitong buwang grace period para sa mga illegal migrant upang ayusin ang kanilang estado noong Nobyembre 3.

Sinabi ni Bello na kailangang ibigay ng gobyerno ang lahat ng tulong sa mga apektadong OFW.

“Nothing short of a diplomatic action from our government must be taken to seek an apology from the Saudi government for such barbaric and dehumanizing actions and prevent its recurrence,” aniya.

“The DFA must extend assistance to all OFWs, documented or otherwise and double its efforts to assist those who have been arrested and expedite the repatriation of those who are still fleeing capture by Saudi officials,” dagdag niya.

Sinabi rin niya na ang mga kinatawan ng gobyerno sa Saudi Arabia ay dapat na maghanda ng mga kinakailangang resources dahil batid nilang hindi maglalaon at tutugisin ng gobyernong Saudi ang mga Pilipino.

“They have nowhere else to go. They’re placed in between a rock and a hard place. OFWs fleeing harassment, arrest, and imprisonment by Saudi authorities are forced to seek shelter in safe houses which are not only cramped with but where they are susceptible to abuse by our own officials,” ani.

“We are appalled by accounts from OFWs themselves describing their ordeal – they were treated like animals by arresting authorities and chained at their feet,” dagdag ni Bello.

Binatikos niya ang Saudi government “[for] stubbornly clinging to barbaric practices.”

“While its economy may be in the twenty-first century, its respect and appreciation for human rights is two centuries behind,” sabi ni Bello.

May 4,420 OFW na ang napauwi habang 1,500 undocumented migrant worker pa ang naghihintay ng maproseso ang kanilang mga immigration clearance.

.. Continue: Balita.net.ph (source)

Pang-aabuso sa OFWs sa Saudi, iimbestigahan ng Kongreso