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While all Filipino expatriates deserve to be recognised as “modern-day heroes” in their homeland, the head of Philippine Overseas Labour Office (Polo) in Qatar has suggested that housemaids and construction workers be honoured and awarded on International Workers’ Day for their patience, dedication and sacrifice. |
Leopoldo De Jesus, who is also the labour attaché in the Philippine embassy, estimates that of the 200,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), around 30,000 are housemaids who work for Qatari and expatriate families in the country. Labourers also constitute a huge portion of the entire Filipino population in Qatar.
“This is an opportune time to recognise the hard work, patience and honesty of the more or less 30,000 Filipino household service workers who remain to be the most preferred caregivers for Qataris and other expatriates,” said De Jesus. “Truly, they have proven their ability to cope with the various challenges in their work.”
The labour attaché earlier disclosed that there was an increasing demand for housemaids among families and employers during the third quarter of last year. Polo has been receiving an average of 12-15 contracts for verification daily – an indication that housemaids are being deployed in Qatar.
Besides skilled workers and professionals such as engineers, architects, accountants and nurses, De Jesus stressed that housemaids and construction workers deserved commendation.
Polo, an attached government agency of the Philippine embassy in Doha, has vowed to further improve its services and assistance for OFWs, especially to those who have been victimised by the “unfair and unjust treatment” of their respective employers.
De Jesus noted that Polo has significantly increased the
rate of settlement and disposition of welfare cases. It is
also implementing the “single-entry approach” in addressing OFW complaints.
He cited the case of Estella Selloriquez, a housemaid, who did not receive any salary for more than a year. But Polo’s intervention prompted the OFW’s employer to pay the entire amount (QR13,000) and a plane ticket. She returned home on April 29.
Polo, together with members of the community, also helped in sending dozens of distressed OFWs back home.
De Jesus also cited the “honesty and integrity” of a number of Filipinos who deserved recognition, such as Jason Castillo, who returned the money and valuables he found
while on his way to his office to their owner; as well as the vigilance and dedication of Rodel Vinluan, a CCTV and access control security agent at
Qatar Airways whose timely intervention facilitated the arrest of thieves who stole $82,500 at the airport.
“In view of his performance, he was in fact given a special award and recognition by Qatar Airways CEO Akbar al-Baker,” said De Jesus.
He disclosed that they recently transferred to a new and bigger building from Bin Omran to a villa in Onaiza to serve OFWs better.
OFWs can now avail of various services with ease “under one roof”. These services include verification of contracts, securing Overseas Employment Certificates, membership to the Overseas Workers’ Welfare Administration, Pag-ibig
Fund (housing) and Social Security System.
In a text message, ambassador Crescente Relacion thanked the host country for giving Filipinos the opportunity to contribute to its development.
“Let’s continue to be ambassadors of goodwill through hard work and dedicated service to our employers,” he said.