Repatriated overseas Filipino workers (OFW) and their supporters claimed “victory” on the second day of their camp-out in front of the office of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), after the agency relented to the group's immediate demands Thursday night. “The camp-out was a success,” Garry Martinez, chair of migrants' rights group Migrante International, said in an interview with GMANews.TV. According to Martinez, OWWA has agreed to give a total of 63 repatriated workers immediate financial assistance amounting to P10,000 each, after the OFWs vowed not to leave the campout until their demands are met. Martinez further disclosed that the agency will also shoulder the costs of the OFWs' return trip to their provinces, as well as a medical check-up for each after they complained of illnesses they allegedly contracted while working as caregivers in Saudi Arabia. The OFWs stopped working last year after complaining of unfair labor practices by their employer. Early this year, a total of 43 workers were repatriated by the Philippine government. The workers, however, have camped in front of the OWWA office since Wednesday asking for reimbursement of their repatriation costs and compensation for unpaid wages and benefits. They vowed to remain outside the OWWA office until they receive the cash assistance Friday. The agency promised not to dismantle the campout until the case has been settled. Martinez added that the workers' fight continues, as cases have already been filed Wednesday before the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA) against their recruitment agencies. In their complaint, the OFWs asked that their recruitment agencies be blacklisted from deploying Filipino workers abroad for their alleged illegal labor practices. The recruitment agencies cited by the workers are United Placeman Philippines Inc., Global Jobsearch Services Inc., Saveway International Manpower Inc. and Placewell International Services Inc. In separate interviews, the four agencies have all denied the accusations, saying they paid for the OFWs' repatriation costs contrary to the workers' claims. Representatives from United Placeman, Global Jobsearch, and Placewell International refused to be identified and declined to give further details, saying they were not authorized to speak on the issue. Sheila Vargas, liaison officer of Saveway International, maintained the agency paid for the repatriation of the 10 workers it deployed to Annasban. She added they also gave the workers P11,000 each as financial assistance upon arrival in the Philippines and even sent them food allowance in Saudi Arabia when they decided to stop work. “What they are doing to us is very unfair. We are not running away from our obligation, but they are pushing us to the wall. We never abandoned them.,” Vargas said. The OFWs, through Migrante, denied the agencies' claims, and said they will present their evidence to bolster their case against the agencies in the hearings set by POEA this March.
