DOLE ready to provide employment to abused maids

News item : DOLE ready to provide employment to abused maids  http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2013/08/04/1048231/dole-ready-provide-employment-abused-maids

 

Department of Labor and Employment office in Manila (repertoire)

Dole announced today:

Domestic workers need not put up with abuses and exploitation just to keep their jobs. Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz also said the DOLE and other concerned agencies are now readying a package of assistance for abused domestic helpers in compliance with the Kasambahay law.

DOLE Sec. Baldoz (repertoire)

Beautifully worded announcement, Sec. Baldoz,  to the unsuspecting. But it looks like DOLE is trying to recover their sheen marred by the officials chosen to protect and serve the Filipino workers abroad. It tuned out that this officials posted abroad by DOLE proved to have betrayed their trust and did the very opposite of their duties. Instead of providing protection and assistance to OFWs, this POLO officials has been the instruments of the foreign employers in exploitating and abusing the Filipino’s rights as workers and dignity as human being.

In the first place, even if the scandals has not happened, it is still the duty of labor officers to safeguard and protect the rights of Filipino workers everywhere. One thing that has been neglected by DOLE as reflected by the conduct of its officials abroad. This neglect was made worst by the very people entrusted and paid for with the workers’ taxes by betraying the OFWs. This is the reason for this aesthetic measures proudly announced by DOLE.

Secondly, you cannot expect the OFWs applauding your nice word noticing the catch in the following clauses : Meanwhile, the government has deferred the implementation of the unified registration system (URS) of domestic workers pending the signing of the memorandum of understanding by the Social Security System, PhilHealth and the Pag-IBIG Fund. This means imposing obligatory levies on the shoulders of by now overladen OFWs. The Filipino workers abroad has already given their maximum contributions to the Philippine economy not only with their remittances but also with the pre-departure exactions that ampints to millions of pesos per day from the departing OFWs. The government is literally wringing the last drops of lifeblood from the long suffering migrant workers.

One thing is clearly demonstrated by this government and its agencies. This Government does not have a soft spot for the long suffering OFW. They are still being treated as the government’s cash cows to be milked dry.

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