Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva called on the Departments of Migrant Workers (DMW) and Foreign Affairs (DFA) to ensure that no overseas Filipino workers (OFW) in New Zealand would be deprived of their salary and benefits on time.
Villanueva made the call following reports that more than 700 OFWs based in Christchurch, New Zealand were displaced from their jobs during the Christmas holidays when the company they were working for had closed.
ELE, a skilled labor agency in the construction and manufacturing sector, shut down unannounced four days before Christmas. Though the company promised to pay the displaced workers, it did not give a definite date when it would do so.
The senator urged the DMW and DFA to act with dispatch on the situation of the OFWs in NZ to avoid a repeat of the experience of over 10,000 OFWs in Saudi Arabia who lost their jobs in 2015 and have yet to receive back wages and benefits to this day.
“Having no job in a foreign country is a nightmare for our kababayan OFWs. For them, it's no work, no pay. And without pay, how will they survive?” said Villanueva.
“We don't want a repeat of what happened to our kababayans who were laid off in Saudi Arabia and remain waiting to get their pay and other receivables. Let's act now,” the senator said.
“We ask the DMW and the DFA to immediately make representations with the New Zealand government and the private company so that obligations to our OFWs will be fulfilled in the soonest time possible,” the senator said.
Villanueva also pointed out that while the visas of the OFWs are valid for three years, they are not allowed to switch jobs.
Since the last week of December, the OFWs were reportedly have been living on their own, and with the help of fellow Filipinos. However, Villanueva said such assistance is not sustainable.
“We know this is not sustainable. One of these days they will run out of food and other supplies. Worse, they have families in the Philippines who are worried and yet, in need of support as well,” Villanueva said.
In addition, the lawmaker also urged the DFA and DMW to actively monitor the situation of OFWs in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, following violent attacks there early this week.
Villanueva said his office has received reports of the situation from some OFWs in Papua New Guinea who are seeking assistance from the government because of these violent attacks.
“Our OFWs are obviously the victims here. Swift government action will help alleviate their plight,” he stressed.