(From left) Labour attache De Jesus, ambassador Relacion, and Labour Secretary Baldoz led the inauguration of the new POLO-OWWA building on Friday.
PICTURE: Joey Aguilar.
By Joey Aguilar
Staff Reporter
Visiting Philippine Labour Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz has urged overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Qatar who have been victims of “contract substitution” to file necessary complaints against scrupulous employers.
Baldoz was speaking at the inauguration of the new Philippine Overseas Labour Office – Overseas Workers Welfare Office (POLO-OWWA) building on Friday.
“We need these people to come out in the open and file the necessary complaints so we can investigate,” she stressed. Complaints must be filed first at the POLO-OWWA
Baldoz said POLO has the power to suspend the documentary processing of foreign agencies involved in various anomalies in the recruitment of workers from the Philippines.
Contract substitution, an irregularity in recruiting workers, is resorted to by unscrupulous employers who are colluding with some recruitment agencies back home.
Ambassador Crescentre Relacion earlier noted that the practice refers to a job contract signed by the candidate and processed by POLO-OWWA being swapped by another one in Qatar.
In many cases, he said the candidate has no option but to sign another contract with lower pay and benefits when he or she arrives in Doha.
Labour attaché Leopoldo De Jesus has earlier advised OFWs who have been treated unjustly or unfairly to seek the intervention of POLO-OWWA for assistance in the resolution of any work-related grievances against their employers.
These included those who have been victims of “contract substitution” and “excessive collection” perpetuated by recruitment agencies and some employers.
Delayed payment of salaries and keeping of passports are the two major issues being raised by workers who come to the De Jesus’ office.
De Jesus said the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration in the Philippines has cancelled the licenses of some recruitment agencies who were involved in contract substitution and those who asked for placements fees for housemaids.
However, Baldoz was also mulling to award legitimate recruitment agencies and employers which are performing and doing business excellently.
“If they have a record or profile, they can have a special lane making it less difficult for them to do business here at POLO,” she said. “They should be rewarded, but for those who will continue to violate, definitely we have to penalize them.”
The Labour Secretary has also urged OFWs and Filipinos who want to work abroad to be prepared and learn how to adjust with the culture in Qatar.
She said following the laws and conforming to the rules and regulations of the host country prevent them from getting into trouble.
“By doing that, they’ll be able to serve the full term of their contracts without disruption,” she added.
Baldoz also met with HE Qatar’s Minister of Labour and Social Welfare Abdullah Saleh Mubarak al-Khulaifi and members of the Filipino community yesterday.
She will hold a meeting with officials and representative of various recruitment agencies today.
