By Joey Aguilar/Staff Reporter
The Philippine embassy is looking into all possible means to help Filipino workers affected by the layoff at a leading energy company in Qatar, especially those with outstanding bank loans.
“Although consumer loans are the personal responsibility of the borrower, we will provide legal assistance to the affected through the services of a lawyer, who the embassy employs on retainer basis,” ambassador Wilfredo
C Santos told Gulf Times.
He said the mission recently made representations with the company “to clarify the situation and to raise the concerns of affected employees with banks.”
Santos noted that those with outstanding loans were being pressed by the banks to immediately
pay the remaining balance.
Citing that a significant number of OFWs would be affected by the company’s “restructuring,” he said about 10 people have so far approached and asked for the
embassy’s assistance.
According to the envoy, the company has not provided an official number of employees who would be affected. He said he was told that the ongoing restructuring was based on job functions rather than nationality.
“The reason provided for the retrenchment is restructuring to achieve a higher cost-efficiency in the middle of the current challenges in the oil and gas industry,” Santos explained. “The company mentioned that it shall continue to hire employees only for specialised jobs not
affected by the restructuring.”
Asked how the Philippine government can protect Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in these kinds of circumstances, Santos stressed that the “termination of employment due to redundancy” was a business
decision of the employer.
He said the company has given appropriate assistance to affected OFWs including the provision of no objection certificate which will allow them look for new jobs. The end-of-service benefits due to the employees will be paid within the prescribed time.
About helping employees to pay their loans, Santos noted that it was a private matter to be discussed by the borrower with the bank or the lending institution.
“In this regard, the embassy will provide appropriate legal assistance within the established rules and regulations, to those who will come to us,” he added.
In view of the challenges faced by employees who lost their jobs, Santos urged OFWs in Qatar to exercise prudence while undertaking such financial commitments as repayment of loans.
“I know that the loan application process here is relatively easier than in most countries as the banks are inclined to give unsecured loans on the basis of the applicant’s job,” he said.
“However, please bear in mind that in many cases the borrower has to sign two blank cheques which serve as guarantee in case of a default. When these cheques are deposited for loan recovery, a bouncing cheque will be the basis for a police case. If this happens, you will be banned from leaving the country until the loan is settled.
“This also highlights the need to instill a sense of sound financial management among OFWs in Qatar. OFWs should wisely manage their finances, especially in availing of loans, which should be reasonably within their reach in case of a crisis
situation,” he added.
Philippine ambassador W Santos
