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More Filipino maids suffer during Ramadan

8/31/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post

Filipino maids in the Middle East suffer more during the fasting month of Ramadan when some of them are required to work long hours, lasting way beyond 8 hours per day. A number of these women are forcibly asked to observe fasting in domestic households against their will.

John L. Monterona, Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator who works for the welfare of OFW;s, said the number of maids who runaway from their employers rise from 5 before Ramadan to about 6 to 8 per month----a result of intolerable work conditions which tend to worsen during the Muslim fasting season.

“Just last night, I received several short messages from OFW Marie (not her real name) asking for help as she couldn’t anymore endure staying with her employer. She complains that she works 18 to 20 hours a day, with only a single meal and not enough sleep,” Monterona said.---- Inquirer (08/30/09, Uy, V.)

In 2006, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) lists about 90,000 Filipino maids working abroad, mostly in the Middle East. There is a lot that the Philippine government and the host country have to do to improve the labor condition of house-helps working outside the country.

Exploitation of maids in abroad is still a problem in spite of international covenants by the International Labor Organization (ILO) and the UN aimed to protect them and assert their human rights. =0=

Labels: employment, exploitation, household help, International Labor Organization, labor, maids, Middle East, Migrante, Muslim, OFW, POEA, Ramadan, Totie Mesia, United Nations

Ambassador Lauro Baja’s abuse cases of Pinay maid

8/30/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post

Former Philippine Ambassador Lauro l. Baja remains accused by his domestic helper Marichu S. Baoan. Out of the 15 charges, the accuser and her lawyers rounded them to 12 charges that included forced labor, trafficking, peonage, slavery, and involuntary servitude. Her lawyers filed an amended complaint without the the violation of the racketeer influenced and corrupt organization act (RICO).) Baja is given 20 days from August 18, 2009 to answer the charges.

“Baoanan complained that she worked at the Bajas as domestic helper for three months, her visa facilitated by Labaire International Travel. The Bajas collected fees from her, provided her temporary housing and organized her travel from the Philippines to New York. She was forced to work 18 hours a day, seven days a week with no days off for three months and paid merely $100…

Baoanan is taking action under the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act, federal and state labor laws, and common law to recover her lawful minimum and overtime wages, other damages, attorneys’ fees. She is also seeking redress for violations of her basic human and civil rights.”----GMANews.Tv (08/26/09, Lariosa, J.G.)

Charges against the Bajas are pretty serious. If true, they reflect the discordant lifestyle of Filipinos that I mentioned in the blog before. The accusations are cautionary tales for Filipinos who dream of ritzy life-styles in USA cum maids in tow, but don’t have enough money, or a least plan to scrimp, to sustain such luxury. Circumventing the law, particularly by high Philippine officials on foreign assignments adds to the multiple black eyes our country suffer in the international stage.

An embarrassing story like Ambassador Baja’s is reminiscent of Pres. Gloria M. Arroyo’s travels outside the country. Feeling the pinch of a jet-setter’s lifestyle with accusations of abuse and extravagance, the president creates an ugly picture about us Filipinos. It's the whole nation that bears the brunt.

The best policy therefore is still to live within one’s means---any extras, like having a maid in America or eating in a plush restaurant at New York’s Le Cirque restaurant at P1,000,000 a throw can spell trouble. (Photo Credit: filipinoexpress)

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Labels: "I Accuse", Ambassador, Coalition Against the Trafficking of Women, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), foreign travel, Lauro Baja, legal case, maids, OFW

Hongkong’s Chip Tsao & his cheap racial slur against Filipinos

3/31/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post

Tsao in part wrote in his HK magazine column:

“Manila has just claimed sovereignty over the scattered rocks in the South China Sea called the Spratly Islands, complete with a blatant threat from its congress to send gunboats to the South China Sea to defend the islands from China if necessary. This is beyond reproach. The reason: there are more than 130,000 Filipina maids working as $3,580-a-month cheap labor in Hong Kong. As a nation of servants, you don’t flex your muscles at your master, from whom you earn most of your bread and butter."

“As a patriotic Chinese man, the news has made my blood boil. I summoned Louisa, my domestic assistant who holds a degree in international politics from the University of Manila, hung a map on the wall, and gave her a harsh lecture. I sternly warned her that if she wants her wages increased next year, she had better tell every one of her compatriots in Statue Square on Sunday that the entirety of the Spratly Islands belongs to China.”---Chip Tsao

Reactions of Filipinos

“The most racist, insulting and demeaning attack yet against Filipino domestic helpers."---Migrante International Sec. Gen. Gina Esguerra

“His very announcement that he gave her Filipino maid a harsh lecture and warned her to tell every one of her compatriots that Spartly Islands belong to China or she’d lose her wages, is already a sign of an unstable, irresponsible and racist employer who resorts to verbal abuse even for perceived bilateral and historic infractions. Luisa deserves a sane and more humane employer while he deserves to clean up his own filth.” -----Susan Ople, Blas F. Ople Policy Center.

"According to the meeting of leaders of the Filipino community, they are now preparing street protests]… The sentiment of our countrymen here is that the one who wrote the article, Chip Tsao, should apologize." ----Romulo Salud, labor attache of the Philippine consulate general in Hong Kong

“We will look into that because we should not be provoked by one columnist. What that writer did was reprehensible. Let’s see what needs to be done. Press Sec. Cerge Remonde:

"If Filipinos stop going to Hong Kong, their economy would collapse. I propose a six-month, nay a one-year boycott of Hong Kong and let's see what happens to their shops and hotels. We can do without going to HK and HK products." ---- Parañaque City Rep. Roilo Golez Golez.

"I don’t think we should dignify his (Tsao) statement as he is just one person and not a government or Hong Kong official but it is understandable that we are offended,” -----Pres. Spokesman Lorelei Fajardo

"That comment is uncalled for, it's atrocious. We should protest vigorously against this slur against Filipino workers in Hong Kong," ----Cebu City Rep. Antonio Cuenco

“I am not asking the DFA file a diplomatic protest. But our government must address this squarely and defend the dignity of Filipinos, If we need to take legal action against Tsao, let us do so. Our government should be in the frontline on this; they can hire a lawyer in Hong Kong if at all and file a case for damages.” ---Sen Francis Escudero

"This disgusting, derogatory, and vile remark can only come from dim-witted and mediocre writing. The magazine should apologize straightaway. The article reflects the kind of attitude that promotes abuses against Filipina workers," ----Rep. Ana Theresia Hontiveros

“Filipinos deserve no less than a formal public apology."---Sen. Pia Cayetano

"It's the view of one person and we don't think it is shared by the Hong Kong community and society... I think we ought to take it as that." ----DFA spokesperson Ed Malaya

“Because of the administration’s failed employment policies, a record number of Filipino women have been forced to seek jobs abroad to make ends meet.”--- Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay

"For the protection of migrant workers, the POEA should look into the said allegations, not only confined to forms of physical abuse but also emotional abuse such as public humiliation and verbal harassment."--- Sen. Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri (Photo Credit: Mattviews) ==0=

RELATED BLOG: "A “nation of servants” insults Filipinos in Hongkong" Posted by mesiamd at 3/30/2009

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Labels: Chip Tsao, Hongkong, insult, jobs, maids, OFW, protest, racial slur, Spratly Islands, Totie Mesia

UP Ibalon Bicol

More Filipino maids suffer during Ramadan

Ambassador Lauro Baja’s abuse cases of Pinay maid

Hongkong’s Chip Tsao & his cheap racial slur against Filipinos

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