The Department of Migrant Workers through its Migrant Workers Protection Bureau visited an accommodation house in Quezon City to address the concerns raised by the applicants regarding their living conditions and application status.
The DMW-MWPB, led by Director Geraldine Mendez, coordinated with Philippine National Police (PNP) Women and Children Protection Center (WCPC), PNP Police Station 9, and Barangay Anonas officials headed by Hon. Solien Alvarez, for the welfare check of the applicants staying at the accommodation house. Upon arriving at the premises, the team consulted with agency management and thereafter engaged in conversations with the applicants to assess their condition, welfare, and the progress of their applications.
During the discussions, it was brought to the team’s attention that several applicants had concerns regarding the accommodation’s house rules, specifically, the prohibition of leaving the premises to buy food forcing them to purchase meals from the accommodation’s canteen. Additionally, they expressed grievances regarding verbal abuse and blacklisting threats, high costs associated with cashing out through G-cash and phone charging, overcrowded rooms, lack of proper bedding and inadequate water provision for bathing.
Section 101 of the DMW Rules and Regulations Governing the Recruitment and Employment of Landbased Overseas Filipino Workers states that all accommodation facilities provided by the Philippine recruitment agency shall provide OFWs with adequate provisions such as food, drinking water, beds, blankets, toilet facilities, and other amenities to ensure decent and human living conditions, free of charge. Said DMW Rules and Regulations also reiterated that no applicant shall be prevented from freely leaving the accommodation house/housing facility or from communicating or contacting their family and loved ones.
The DMW took note of these concerns and have initiated discussions with the agency management to address the issues raised by the applicants, to ensure improvement on living conditions, fair treatment, and appropriate remedies and to closely monitor their situation. The DMW also encourages overseas job seekers to immediately report this kind of situation via Migrant Workers Protection Bureau Facebook Page, www.facebook.com/dmwairtip.