This was the challenge issued by Migrante International, together with repatriated workers from the Annasban company in Riyadh and the construction workers from a Filipino-owned Ashley Alexis Company in Maldives who trooped to the POEA to file mass complaints against their respective recruitment agencies.
The repatriated workers have experienced gross violations in their employment contracts, poor working condition and non-payment of their wages. They are seeking to file administrative complaints against their agencies as part of the measures they intend to take in their pursuit of justice. They are also fighting to bring their co-workers still stranded abroad home to the Philippines.
“Through these complaints, we are putting the POEA on notice that we shall be closely monitoring how they will respond to these cases,” Garry Martinez, chairperson of the largest organization of Filipino migrants, declared. “Time and again, we have seen how POEA decisions have favored recruitment agencies more than OFWs.”
Martinez cited the Annasban company as one of the companies which seem to be favored by the POEA. The company has gained some notoriety among OFWs here and in Riyadh because it has been the subject of many complaints of gross violations of contracts in the past and yet has not been given any sanctions at all by the POEA.
“What is going on in the POEA? Why can recruitment agencies such as these continue to ply their evil deeds, right under the noses of POEA officials? Why are there so many illegal recruitment cases victimizing thousands of OFWs?” queried Martinez.
“We have had enough! This time, we will be setting up a POEA Watch. We shall make a count of how many recruitment agencies with various cases of illegal recruitment the POEA has allowed to go unpunished! The public will definitely hear about this,” Martinez continued.
The organization is now consulting lawyers’ groups about the filing of a case against the inaction of POEA officials on illegal recruitment cases.###
PROSECUTE RECRUITMENT AGENCIES ENGAGED IN ILLEGAL RECRUITMENT!
Peacetalks
- GPH undermines basic peace agreements, refuses to respect and comply with JASIG
- Compliance with JASIG and the Oslo Joint Statements is not a precondition but an obligation
- GPH Negotiating Panel Chairperson Padilla gives notice of no formal talks next month
- Closing statement on the GPH-NDFP formal peace talks in Oslo
- Peace panels hold preliminary informal meetings in Hong Kong
Human Rights
- Aquino violated every key labor right this year – KMU
- “Stop the killings, violence and intimidation in Pangarap Village!”
- PH election to UN rights council called an embarrassment
- CHR report on Melissa Roxas practically clears AFP in torture -- Bayan
- BAYAN condemns killing of local leader in Batangas
Workers
- Workers to keep watch on Corona impeachment trial
- Protesta mga magsasaka, sasalubungin ng mga manggagawa at mamamayan
- A day before Congress committee meeting Solons told: Stop Cha-cha
- [Sa pagtatapos ng Protestang Bayan] Lakas ng protesta vs. overpricing, di maikaila ng gobyerno
- We are part of the people’s protest on Sept. 19!
Peasants
- Vested interests taint Aquino’s Candidacy ABSTENTION FROM CARPER VOTE IN ’09 REVEALS REAL AGENDA
- Farmers, youth to Noynoy: Expect more protests for Hacienda Luisita Issue
- Noynoy should take responsibility and rectify the failure of the Corazon Aquino administration to implement genuine agrarian reform – Satur
- NORMIN FARMERS JOINS HACIENDA LUISITA STRUGGLE, URGES NOYNOY TO JUNK MEMO
- Land reform, justice for rights victims key to resolving Luisita conflict
Youth & Students
- UP student councils tag Noynoy as Arroyo’s heir
- KABATAAN Partylist remembers Beng Hernandez, writer martyr
- KABATAAN Partylist STORMS COMELEC: DEMANDS RESUMPTION OF VOTER’S REGISTRATION
- UP Students Dance Against Cha-Cha
- Christian Students Dismayed Over Dismissal of Petition for Writ of "Landmark Cases"
Women& Children
- Workers to keep watch on Corona impeachment trial
- Protesta mga magsasaka, sasalubungin ng mga manggagawa at mamamayan
- A day before Congress committee meeting Solons told: Stop Cha-cha
- [Sa pagtatapos ng Protestang Bayan] Lakas ng protesta vs. overpricing, di maikaila ng gobyerno
- We are part of the people’s protest on Sept. 19!
Imperialism
- No to extension and expansion of US military operations in PH!
- US military buildup is biggest threat to regional peace – Bayan
- End imperialist plunder, repression and war! Defend Philippine sovereignty and patrimony against the onslaught of imperialism!
- Bayan holds rally to mark 20th anniversary of bases treaty rejection
- US won’t pull out troops in PH despite so-called “gains” vs terror
