RIYADH,Nov 14(Arab new): The Saudi labor law is good. It’s the main reason why the Kingdom can recruit manpower from the Philippines under Republic Act 10022, which was amended under RA 8042, otherwise known as the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995.
RA No. 10022 provides that the recruiting country “has existing labor law and social laws protecting the rights of workers, including migrant workers.”
As of now, it's estimated that there are some 1.5 million Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) all over the Kingdom, not to mention their families staying with them.
But Filipino officials and community leaders lament that while the Saudi labor law protects OFWs and other migrant workers in general, it does not cover laborers like housemaids, nannies, family drivers and agricultural workers who are the most vulnerable to abuse and exploitation by employers.
Aside from having no regular work hours these OFWs don't receive end-of-service benefits.
“This is a sad phenomenon, but it's the reality,” said Francisco “Boy” Naval, an engineer and chairman of the board of the 8,000-strong United OFW. He said that his heart bleeds whenever he learns of an abused OFW.
The Saudi labor law indicates it will come up with guidelines concerning maids, nannies, family drivers and farmhands, but reliable sources said the guidelines are still being developed.
The Saudi labor law's noncoverage of housemaids, nannies, family drivers and agriculture workers has led to rampant abuse by employers. It explains why many OFWs run away from their employers. “They run away due to various reasons, such as physical abuse, sexual assault, maltreatment, delayed or nonpayment of salaries, among others,” said a Filipino community leader who has helped many runaway maids seeking help from the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh.
Maids who want to run away from their sponsors normally call Filipino community leaders known for helping female OFWs who want to escape from their sponsors.
Both the maid and the rescuer agree on a place where the latter would pick up the former. Normally, the runaway should be brought to the Philippine Embassy or the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO), which would endorse her to the Bahay Kalinga (BK).
The BK is where runaways who include mostly maids in Riyadh stay while their cases are resolved. In Jeddah, it's the Filipino Workers Resource Center (FWRC). At the BK, they don't only have shelter but also free food while their case is endorsed to the Saudi Social Welfare Administration (SSWA). On various occasions, various Filipino community groups donate food, clothing, among others, to the BK for the runaway female OFWs.
In the case of male runaway OFWs, the procedure is different. After escaping from their employers, they seek the help of friends or relatives, if any, who allow them to stay with them in their homes until their cases are resolved through the legal process.
“But these well-meaning compatriots could also be charged with harboring illegal residents. This is why not many are willing to accommodate male runaway OFWs,” said Benny M. Quiambao, president of Calabarzon.
As a result, these runaway OFWs resort to various means for their day-to-day food. Some are lucky enough to get part-time jobs like washing cars or dishes in restaurants and cleaning homes. Those who are not lucky enough to find work resort to approaching fellow OFWs who are either known or unknown to them. While some understand their situation and give either cash or food — or both — others are not as accommodating. What's worse is that they conceal their inability to help by showing lack of compassion.
“They treat us as if we are good-for-nothing fellows,” said one runaway OFW in a voice tinged with sadness.