Press Release
April 19, 2009

Situation of 96 OFWs in Poland worsen

Nacionalista Party President Sen. Manny Villar expressed heightened concern at the worsening situation of 96 Filipino migrant workers in Poland. A number of them were terminated yesterday from the glass-company where they are working, and at least 21 of them have already absconded.

These developments came after a number of workers stopped work due to fatigue and disillusionment brought about by labor problems. The OFWs earlier complained of contract substitution, diminution of agreed salaries, sickness due to inadequate food provision and heavy work.

Villar asked the Philippine Consulate in Warsaw and the Philippine Overseas Labor Office to promptly and adequately assist the beleaguered OFWs. Last Friday, the senator called for government assistance on the plight of the close to a hundred Filipino workers in distress together and pleading for help in Aleksandrow Lodzi.

Ronaldo Corpuz, one of the OFWs yesterday said, "Ibinigay na po 'yung passports namin kaya lang may na-terminate sa 'min at tumakas pa ang 21." (Our passports were given back to us but some were terminated and 21 fled.) Corpuz lamented, "We were fooled by our agency in Manila about our salary."

Aside from Corpuz, the Filipino migrant workers included James Bernal, Marlon Meer, Armel Galapon, Arnaldo Ico, Jefferson Yambao, Ryan Malabuyoc, Salvador Polistico, Abe Borlaza, Ryan Gestoso, Jaime Polintang, Basil Falcunaya, Edgar Barcol, Rodrigo Gundran, Francisco Alvaro Jr., Jonathan Estur, Bartolome Bernal, Romwel Luna, Regie Pijo, Arnel Manlunas, Eric Padua, among others. They hail from Metro Manila, Laguna, Batangas, Quezon, Cavite, Bulacan, Tarlac, Pampanga, Zambales, Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan, Benguet, and Negros Occidental.

Earlier, the migrant workers told the office of Villar that they wanted their passports returned by their employer who was holding them, hindering the OFWs from sending money to their loved ones in the Philippines.

In an earlier video call with Villar's office, the migrant workers aired their plight and called for government assistance. They were promised "good employment" by their agency in Manila but ended up getting a measly equivalent of P12,000 to P14,000 each as monthly salary in the central Europe country.

Signing up for a US$500 to $750 contract monthly with their agency in Manila, they paid $720 placement and P6,000 additional fee each prior to their departure last month in three batches, only to realize that the salary rate they would get could be earned in the Philippines.

As a personal, voluntary public service effort, Villar has put up a helpline for OFWs in distress as he pushes for favorable economic conditions in the country to spread out opportunities as a lasting solution.

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