By Nissar Hoath, Staff Reporter
Published: 16/8/2005, 08:11 (UAE)
GULF NEWS
http://www.gulfnews.com/Articles/NationNF.asp?ArticleID=177514
Abu Dhabi: The Ministry of Interior yesterday clarified that the recent amendment by the Cabinet of an earlier decision on the visa and fee structure pertains only to a new visa introduced to facilitate the Labour Ministry's Temporary Work Permit. Lieutenant Colonel Rashid Al Khidhar, Legal Adviser at the Directorate of Naturalisation and Residence in the ministry, told Gulf News it is a completely new type of visa introduced to facilitate Labour Ministry's Temporary Work Permit, which is issued for a maximum of 180 days.
The permit by the Labour Ministry is issued for three months for a fee of Dh1,100 per person and can be renewed for another three months with an additional fee of Dh1,100.
"The new temporary work visa, which is called Mission Visa, will be issued to those who enter the country for temporary jobs with permission of Labour Ministry, and with specialised qualification," the legal adviser clarified.The new visa is issued for three months against a fee of Dh600 and can be renewed for another three months against an additional fee of Dh1,200.
It caters mainly to companies that require highly-skilled workers, especially in the oil sector, according to Brigadier Colonel Bekheit Al Suwaidi, Deputy Director at the General Directorate of Naturalisation and Residency, at the Ministry of Interior. He said companies will have to apply for it to the Ministry of Labour which may decide to issue the visas based on the skills needed and the size of the project.Earlier, companies used to bring in temporary workers and specialists on visit visas which is illegal, Brig Colonel Al Suwaidi said.
The new Mission Visa makes it easier for them to hire temporary workers without breaking the law. Al Suwaidi urged national companies to make use of the new system.Earlier, confusion pertained due to media reports saying that under the decision the fee and stay duration structures of the current three-month visit visa have been changed. However, it has not.
A visit visa is still issued for two months against a fee of Dh100 and can be renewed for another 30 days against an additional fee of Dh500.
Al Khidhar further explained: "All the existing visa types, including the visit visa, their fees and stay duration structures remain unchanged."He also clarified that the Mission Visa is not an expansion of the current Special Mission Entry Visa, which is issued to businessmen and tourists for a non-renewable 14 days against a fee of Dh220.
About the implementation of the Mission Visa, Al Khidhar said: "All the procedures have been finalised and it will be implemented by the end of this month."The introduction of the Mission Visa comes under Cabinet decision No 16 for 2005, which amends some provisions of decision No 6 of 1994 regarding the amendment and introduction of fees levied for transactions processed by the departments of Naturalisation and Residency and Traffic. It was approved last month.
The official also clarified that the citizens of 34 countries, including Britain and the US, are issued a 30-day visa upon arrival free of charge. Earlier, the service was provided to the citizens of Britain only.It entitles the holder to stay in the country for up to 60 days as it can be renewed once for an additional period of 30 days for a fee of Dh500.
Types of visaVisit visa: It must be sponsored by an individual, such as a relative, or an establishment. The application is submitted by the sponsor with all required documents. It is issued for Dh100 for two months and is renewable for another month for a fee of Dh500.
The citizens of following countries can get a 30-day visit visa free of charge upon arrival, entitling them to stay for 60 days and the visa can be renewed once for another 30 days for an additional fee of Dh500: Britain, France, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Austria, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Portugal, Ireland, Greece, Cyprus, Finland, Malta, Spain, Monaco, Vatican, Iceland, Andorra, San Marino, Liechtenstein, United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Brunei, Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong.
Tourist Visa: It is available for tourists sponsored by tour operating companies and hotels. It is issued for 30 days for a fee of Dh100 and an additional Dh10 for delivery. This is non-renewable.Special Mission Entry Visa: This is issued for a non-renewable 14 days for a fee of Dh220 and a delivery charge of Dh10. Commonly known as a transit visa, it is collected by the visitor upon arrival.
It is issued to businessmen and tourists sponsored by a company or commercial establishment or a hotel licensed to operate in the UAE.
Mission Visa: The newly added type of visa, it is issued for the purpose of temporary work in the country. It is issued for a maximum of 180 days with a combined fee of Dh1,800. It is issued for three months against a fee of Dh600 and can be renewed for another three months against a fee of Dh1,200.
It has been introduced to facilitate Labour Ministry's Temporary Work Permit. An applicant must obtain the permit from the Labour Ministry first to get the visa.
Transit Visa: It is issued to travellers transiting through UAE airports. It issued for 96 hours and must be sponsored by an airline operating in the UAE. The visitor must have a valid ticket for onward flight. There is no charge for this permit.
Multiple Entry Visa: It is an option for businessmen who are frequent visitors to the UAE and who have a relationship with a reputable company here.
This multiple visa is valid for six months from the date of issue and costs Dh1,000. However, each visit must not exceed 30 days. The visitor must enter the UAE on a visit visa and obtain the multiple entry visa while he is here.
Residence Visa: A residence visa is required for those who intend to enter the UAE to live indefinitely with a person who is already a resident. It is issued to the immediate kin of a resident for three years for a fee of Dh300.
The residence permit becomes invalid if the resident remains more than six months at a time out of the country.Parents of residents are issued residence visas after special approval with a renewable validity of one year for a fee of Dh100 for each year. A refundable deposit of Dh5,000 has to be paid for each parent.
Investor Visa: It is issued to an expatriate investor in partnership with a local. The foreign investor must hold a minimum stake of Dh70,000 in the share capital.
Like the residence visa, it is issued for three years for a fee of Dh300.
Employment Visa: Employment Visa or Permit is issued by the Immigration Department to a foreign national who wishes to work for a company in the UAE upon the approval of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs.
It allows the holder to enter the UAE once for a period of 30 days and is valid for two months from the date of issue.
When the employee has entered the country on the basis of the employment visa, the sponsoring company will arrange to complete the formalities of stamping his residence. #
Tuesday, August 16, 2005
Monday, August 15, 2005
Solons slam Japanese officials for snubbing hearing on OPAs
Daily TribuneMonday, 08/15/2005
http://www.tribune.net.ph/metro/20050815.met05.html
The Japanese government has incurred the ire of lawmakers, government officials and the overseas entertainment industry with its alleged deception of the Filipino artists who were earlier displaced with the adoption of its stringent immigration requirements starting last March.
The legislators, particularly members of the House special committee on overseas workers affairs, also lambasted the Japanese Embassy officials for ignoring an invitation to last Wednesday's congressional hearing looking into the plight of the Filipino artists working in Japan.
The lawmakers, through the Department of Foreign Affairs, were contemplating to declare the Japanese officials as “persona non grata” for conduct unbecoming of diplomats. The group felt slighted and greatly insulted over the foreign official “undiplomatic gesture” on a formal request from a supposed friendly nation, an ally and a co-member of the community of nations.
Eastern Samar's Rep. Marcelino Libanan, who called for the continuation of the inquiry, assailed the “lack of seriousness” on the part of Japan to tackle the current problems plaguing the industry that has adversely affected around 80,000 OPAs and hundreds of thousands of their families. It was the committee's fourth hearing.
The loss of an estimated $8 billion yearly contribution to RP economy through dollar remittance was also noted. He bared they were twice stood up by the Japanese Embassy officials. “Why do they keep on doing this to us? Thirty minutes before the meeting, these embassy people just cancelled their attendance,” a visibly irked Libanan said.
“Japanese officials are great liars. Their constant pronouncement that there is no numerical reduction in OPA deployment is another deceptive tactic. We were merely used as scapegoat to upgrade their category in the US State Department Trafficking in Person Report last year,” Maureen Advincula spokesman for the OPA Koalisyon, lamented, saying Junichiro Koizumi's government succeeded in that effort and is now up at Tier 2 or has made significant efforts to comply with the standard in the campaign against the global problem on human trafficking. “Kami lang ang sinangkalan sa isyu,” Advincula said.
A remark by embassy spokesman Shuhei Ogawa, alleging that 90 percent of Pinoy artists in Japan are involved in the flesh trade “is an affront to the Filipinas' dignity, a humiliating and demeaning tag, and the accuser has to explain for arriving at this conclusion,” Surigao Rep. Prospero Pichay said. #
http://www.tribune.net.ph/metro/20050815.met05.html
The Japanese government has incurred the ire of lawmakers, government officials and the overseas entertainment industry with its alleged deception of the Filipino artists who were earlier displaced with the adoption of its stringent immigration requirements starting last March.
The legislators, particularly members of the House special committee on overseas workers affairs, also lambasted the Japanese Embassy officials for ignoring an invitation to last Wednesday's congressional hearing looking into the plight of the Filipino artists working in Japan.
The lawmakers, through the Department of Foreign Affairs, were contemplating to declare the Japanese officials as “persona non grata” for conduct unbecoming of diplomats. The group felt slighted and greatly insulted over the foreign official “undiplomatic gesture” on a formal request from a supposed friendly nation, an ally and a co-member of the community of nations.
Eastern Samar's Rep. Marcelino Libanan, who called for the continuation of the inquiry, assailed the “lack of seriousness” on the part of Japan to tackle the current problems plaguing the industry that has adversely affected around 80,000 OPAs and hundreds of thousands of their families. It was the committee's fourth hearing.
The loss of an estimated $8 billion yearly contribution to RP economy through dollar remittance was also noted. He bared they were twice stood up by the Japanese Embassy officials. “Why do they keep on doing this to us? Thirty minutes before the meeting, these embassy people just cancelled their attendance,” a visibly irked Libanan said.
“Japanese officials are great liars. Their constant pronouncement that there is no numerical reduction in OPA deployment is another deceptive tactic. We were merely used as scapegoat to upgrade their category in the US State Department Trafficking in Person Report last year,” Maureen Advincula spokesman for the OPA Koalisyon, lamented, saying Junichiro Koizumi's government succeeded in that effort and is now up at Tier 2 or has made significant efforts to comply with the standard in the campaign against the global problem on human trafficking. “Kami lang ang sinangkalan sa isyu,” Advincula said.
A remark by embassy spokesman Shuhei Ogawa, alleging that 90 percent of Pinoy artists in Japan are involved in the flesh trade “is an affront to the Filipinas' dignity, a humiliating and demeaning tag, and the accuser has to explain for arriving at this conclusion,” Surigao Rep. Prospero Pichay said. #
Ministry Warns of Jail Term for Abuse of Maids
P.K. Abdul Ghafour, Arab News
Monday, 15, August, 2005 (10, Rajab, 1426)
http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1§ion=0&article=68463&d=15&m=8&y=2005&pix=kingdom.jpg&category=Kingdom
JEDDAH, 15 August 2005
The Labor Ministry yesterday warned Saudi sponsors and employers against abusing maidservants saying they would face deterrent punishments including jail sentences.
Ahmed Mansour Al-Zamil, deputy minister for labor affairs, said his ministry was following up cases of maids who have taken shelter at the refugee centers under the Social Affairs Ministry.
He said employers who fail to honor the rights of their workers or delay payment of their salaries would be banned from recruitment and their applications at the ministry would not be processed.
“These arrogant employers will be jailed if their cases are taken to the Interior Ministry,” Al-Watan daily quoted him as saying.
He referred to the ministry’s efforts to settle disputes between employers and their maids. “If a maid agrees to resume work with her sponsor, a written undertaking will be taken from the sponsor pledging he would not violate her rights again. If the sponsor repeats the offense, he/she would be punished,” he explained.
The ministry had earlier announced the formation of a special department to safeguard the rights of expatriate workers and impose sanctions on employers who abuse them.
Al-Zamil said the Department for Protection of Domestic Workers would receive complaints from maids who have been sexually harassed, mistreated or who have not been given their salaries. “If it is proven that an employer has not paid his maid, we will ban him from applying for any domestic worker for five years,” he said.
The new move by the ministry comes after reports of recurrent abuses of maids by their sponsors in various parts of the country.
In a much publicized case, Indonesian maid Nour Miyati accused her sponsor and his wife of torturing her. She alleged that her employer tied her up in a bathroom for over a month until she developed gangrene and had to have some of her fingers and toes amputated. The woman later retracted her statements about being tortured and was arrested by police for making false allegations against her sponsor.
Indonesia sends the largest number of domestic servants to Saudi Arabia. The South East Asian country recently lifted a five-month ban on recruitment to the Kingdom following talks between Saudi Arabian National Recruiting Committee Chairman Waleed Al-Suwaidan and the Indonesian deputy minister of labor. #
Monday, 15, August, 2005 (10, Rajab, 1426)
http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1§ion=0&article=68463&d=15&m=8&y=2005&pix=kingdom.jpg&category=Kingdom
JEDDAH, 15 August 2005
The Labor Ministry yesterday warned Saudi sponsors and employers against abusing maidservants saying they would face deterrent punishments including jail sentences.
Ahmed Mansour Al-Zamil, deputy minister for labor affairs, said his ministry was following up cases of maids who have taken shelter at the refugee centers under the Social Affairs Ministry.
He said employers who fail to honor the rights of their workers or delay payment of their salaries would be banned from recruitment and their applications at the ministry would not be processed.
“These arrogant employers will be jailed if their cases are taken to the Interior Ministry,” Al-Watan daily quoted him as saying.
He referred to the ministry’s efforts to settle disputes between employers and their maids. “If a maid agrees to resume work with her sponsor, a written undertaking will be taken from the sponsor pledging he would not violate her rights again. If the sponsor repeats the offense, he/she would be punished,” he explained.
The ministry had earlier announced the formation of a special department to safeguard the rights of expatriate workers and impose sanctions on employers who abuse them.
Al-Zamil said the Department for Protection of Domestic Workers would receive complaints from maids who have been sexually harassed, mistreated or who have not been given their salaries. “If it is proven that an employer has not paid his maid, we will ban him from applying for any domestic worker for five years,” he said.
The new move by the ministry comes after reports of recurrent abuses of maids by their sponsors in various parts of the country.
In a much publicized case, Indonesian maid Nour Miyati accused her sponsor and his wife of torturing her. She alleged that her employer tied her up in a bathroom for over a month until she developed gangrene and had to have some of her fingers and toes amputated. The woman later retracted her statements about being tortured and was arrested by police for making false allegations against her sponsor.
Indonesia sends the largest number of domestic servants to Saudi Arabia. The South East Asian country recently lifted a five-month ban on recruitment to the Kingdom following talks between Saudi Arabian National Recruiting Committee Chairman Waleed Al-Suwaidan and the Indonesian deputy minister of labor. #
Sunday, August 14, 2005
Expat workers seeking sponsor change before time 'must wait'
By Diaa Hadid, Staff Reporter
Published: 14/8/2005, 07:59 (UAE)
GULF NEWS
http://www.gulfnews.com/Articles/NationNF.asp?ArticleID=177223
Dubai: People who want to change sponsors before completing the required time period set by the Ministry of Labour must wait until the Minister clarifies exemptions to the new sponsorship law, a senior source said. In late July, the Cabinet passed a new law conditionally allowing all people to transfer sponsorship.
In the new law, workers must stay with their current sponsor for at least one year, if they have a PhD or Masters degree, two years if the worker has a Bachelor's degree or equivalent, and three years for everybody else.
However, the new law allowed exemptions to that time period, provided that the new sponsor paid an extra Dh3,500 on top of all other official transaction fees.
Yesterday, a senior official, who declined to be named, said the Minister had still not clarified who would be eligible for exemption, and under what circumstances. "We are waiting for the Minister," he said.
This is important for many workers who want to change sponsors, but have found themselves under the new law obliged to continue working with their current sponsor until they complete the set time period.
The senior official said a part of that confusion was caused because the ministry wanted to apply all policies gradually.There are discussions within the ministry to allow desk clerks to approve the exemptions, rather than waiting for the labour undersecretary's signature.
"That's too centralised. Provided the current and future sponsor agree, and is willing to pay the extra fee, it shouldn't be a difficult operation to complete."Companies 'illegally bringing in employees'Companies are still illegally bringing in workers on visit visas for temporary tasks, instead of applying for temporary work visas through the Labour Ministry, a senior official said.
The senior official, who declined to be named, said the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs had authorised temporary work visas "about a month and a half ago", for oil companies in particular.
"These are companies who need specialised people for a specific task with a fixed time period," he said.The official said those companies had traditionally gone through the Department of Residency and Naturalisation to bring in workers on visit visas, even though the practice was technically illegal.
"This was meant to replace [that practice]," he said.But at least a month and a half on, the official said he did not know of any companies applying for workers through the new temporary work visa system.
The Labour Ministry and the UAE Cabinet recently increased fees for the temporary work visa, to Dh1,100 per person for 90 days. It can be extended to a maximum of 180 days for another Dh1,100. #
Published: 14/8/2005, 07:59 (UAE)
GULF NEWS
http://www.gulfnews.com/Articles/NationNF.asp?ArticleID=177223
Dubai: People who want to change sponsors before completing the required time period set by the Ministry of Labour must wait until the Minister clarifies exemptions to the new sponsorship law, a senior source said. In late July, the Cabinet passed a new law conditionally allowing all people to transfer sponsorship.
In the new law, workers must stay with their current sponsor for at least one year, if they have a PhD or Masters degree, two years if the worker has a Bachelor's degree or equivalent, and three years for everybody else.
However, the new law allowed exemptions to that time period, provided that the new sponsor paid an extra Dh3,500 on top of all other official transaction fees.
Yesterday, a senior official, who declined to be named, said the Minister had still not clarified who would be eligible for exemption, and under what circumstances. "We are waiting for the Minister," he said.
This is important for many workers who want to change sponsors, but have found themselves under the new law obliged to continue working with their current sponsor until they complete the set time period.
The senior official said a part of that confusion was caused because the ministry wanted to apply all policies gradually.There are discussions within the ministry to allow desk clerks to approve the exemptions, rather than waiting for the labour undersecretary's signature.
"That's too centralised. Provided the current and future sponsor agree, and is willing to pay the extra fee, it shouldn't be a difficult operation to complete."Companies 'illegally bringing in employees'Companies are still illegally bringing in workers on visit visas for temporary tasks, instead of applying for temporary work visas through the Labour Ministry, a senior official said.
The senior official, who declined to be named, said the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs had authorised temporary work visas "about a month and a half ago", for oil companies in particular.
"These are companies who need specialised people for a specific task with a fixed time period," he said.The official said those companies had traditionally gone through the Department of Residency and Naturalisation to bring in workers on visit visas, even though the practice was technically illegal.
"This was meant to replace [that practice]," he said.But at least a month and a half on, the official said he did not know of any companies applying for workers through the new temporary work visa system.
The Labour Ministry and the UAE Cabinet recently increased fees for the temporary work visa, to Dh1,100 per person for 90 days. It can be extended to a maximum of 180 days for another Dh1,100. #
Friday, August 12, 2005
STARTING SEPT. 30 - Foreign nurses, midwives must take new program to work in UK
First posted 06:41pm (Mla time)
Aug 12, 2005
By Veronica UyINQ7.net
http://news.inq7.net/top/index.php?index=1&story_id=46675
FOREIGN nurses and midwives from non-European Union countries who want to practice their profession in the United Kingdom need to complete a new overseas nurses program starting September 30, the Philippine Department of Labor and Employment said Friday.
London-based labor attach?Victor Julio Ablan said foreign nurses and midwives, including those from the Philippines, would need to register with the United Kingdom Nursing and Midwifery Council, the regulatory body for health care professionals in the UK, as a pre-requisite for employment in the country as nurses and midwives.
The program, which readies applicants for professional practice in the UK, consists of 20 days of rotected learning time?and possibly some period of supervised practice, said Ablan in his report to Labor Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas.
At the same time, applicants should attain at least a 6.5 proficiency grade in the International English Language Testing System, he said.
For those whose applications are already in the pipeline, Ablan said a transitional arrangement would allow them to prccess placements in the UK through organizations approved for the purpose until the end of the period.
Filipinos in the UK number around 116,000, most of whom are nurses. #
Aug 12, 2005
By Veronica UyINQ7.net
http://news.inq7.net/top/index.php?index=1&story_id=46675
FOREIGN nurses and midwives from non-European Union countries who want to practice their profession in the United Kingdom need to complete a new overseas nurses program starting September 30, the Philippine Department of Labor and Employment said Friday.
London-based labor attach?Victor Julio Ablan said foreign nurses and midwives, including those from the Philippines, would need to register with the United Kingdom Nursing and Midwifery Council, the regulatory body for health care professionals in the UK, as a pre-requisite for employment in the country as nurses and midwives.
The program, which readies applicants for professional practice in the UK, consists of 20 days of rotected learning time?and possibly some period of supervised practice, said Ablan in his report to Labor Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas.
At the same time, applicants should attain at least a 6.5 proficiency grade in the International English Language Testing System, he said.
For those whose applications are already in the pipeline, Ablan said a transitional arrangement would allow them to prccess placements in the UK through organizations approved for the purpose until the end of the period.
Filipinos in the UK number around 116,000, most of whom are nurses. #
Wednesday, August 10, 2005
Saudi gov’t forms agency to handle OFW complaints
Wednesday, 08/10/2005
http://www.tribune.net.ph/nation/20050810.nat06.html
Cases of abused, maltreated and raped overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the Middle East are expected to drop with the Saudi government's setting up a special department that would address exploitation of foreign workers.
Labor Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas said the government of Saudi Arabia created the special unit to handle and assist cases involving maltreatment and abuse of domestic workers. “The special department has been formed to safeguard the rights of guest or foreign workers and impose the sanctions on employers who abuse the workers,” Sto. Tomas said. While the Department of Labor and Employment has no exact figures on maltreatment, rape and abuse cases, Sto. Tomas said a great number of Filipino workers had been complaining of exploitation from their Saudi employers. T
he special unit was formed as the Saudi Department of Protection of Domestic Workers will primarily handle and assist foreign workers complaining of sexual abuse, maltreatment as well as non-payment of salaries. Jeddah-based Labor Attache Bulyok Nilong said a similar agency, the Protection of Foreign Workers, formed three months ago by the Saudi government has been receiving complaints from foreign domestic workers since its creation in May 2005.
He said majority of the complaints lodged by OFWs to the Saudi government involves non-payment or delay in the payment of salaries, as well as maltreatment and sexual abuse.
Meanwhile, Saudi Deputy Minister of Labor Dr. Ahmed Al-Zamil is hopeful that the establishment of the special unit will curtail the exploitation committed on expatriates. Those who will be found guilty of exploitation, Zamil said, face sanctions ranging from prohibition to hire foreign domestic workers for five years and payment of fines and penalties.
At the moment, there are an estimated one million OFWs in Saudi Arabia, more than 30,000 in Bahrain, over 60,000 in Kuwait, 20,000 in Oman, more than 35,000 in Qatar and over 170,000 in the United Arab Emirates.
Records of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration showed that on a daily basis, at least 3 OFWs return home mentally ill, while others report of having been abused. Marie A. Surbano
http://www.tribune.net.ph/nation/20050810.nat06.html
Cases of abused, maltreated and raped overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the Middle East are expected to drop with the Saudi government's setting up a special department that would address exploitation of foreign workers.
Labor Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas said the government of Saudi Arabia created the special unit to handle and assist cases involving maltreatment and abuse of domestic workers. “The special department has been formed to safeguard the rights of guest or foreign workers and impose the sanctions on employers who abuse the workers,” Sto. Tomas said. While the Department of Labor and Employment has no exact figures on maltreatment, rape and abuse cases, Sto. Tomas said a great number of Filipino workers had been complaining of exploitation from their Saudi employers. T
he special unit was formed as the Saudi Department of Protection of Domestic Workers will primarily handle and assist foreign workers complaining of sexual abuse, maltreatment as well as non-payment of salaries. Jeddah-based Labor Attache Bulyok Nilong said a similar agency, the Protection of Foreign Workers, formed three months ago by the Saudi government has been receiving complaints from foreign domestic workers since its creation in May 2005.
He said majority of the complaints lodged by OFWs to the Saudi government involves non-payment or delay in the payment of salaries, as well as maltreatment and sexual abuse.
Meanwhile, Saudi Deputy Minister of Labor Dr. Ahmed Al-Zamil is hopeful that the establishment of the special unit will curtail the exploitation committed on expatriates. Those who will be found guilty of exploitation, Zamil said, face sanctions ranging from prohibition to hire foreign domestic workers for five years and payment of fines and penalties.
At the moment, there are an estimated one million OFWs in Saudi Arabia, more than 30,000 in Bahrain, over 60,000 in Kuwait, 20,000 in Oman, more than 35,000 in Qatar and over 170,000 in the United Arab Emirates.
Records of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration showed that on a daily basis, at least 3 OFWs return home mentally ill, while others report of having been abused. Marie A. Surbano
Monday, August 08, 2005
More Illegal Disbursements
OWWA Funds used to bolster Gloria’s image to OFWs prior to 2004 elections
News Release – August 8, 2005
Reference: Connie Bragas-Regalado, Chairperson
Contact Nos.: 0927-2157392 or 926-2838
More Illegal Disbursements OWWA Funds used to bolster Gloria’s image to OFWs prior to 2004 elections In this season of witnesses and damning testimonies against the Macapagal-Arroyo administration, an alliance of overseas Filipino groups puts out new evidence of high government officials’ abuse of discretion and illegal disbursements of OFW trust funds held by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration.
“Newly obtained government documents reveal that Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s operators in the Department of Labor and Employment and its attached agency OWWA authorized illegal disbursements of at least P23 million of overseas Filipino workers’ (OFW) trust funds prior to the last elections,” MIGRANTE International chairperson Connie Bragas-Regalado said.
Migrante presented Executive Order (EO) 287 that directs the depployment of ‘social welfare attaches’ in selected diplomatic posts dated February 24, 2004. This executive order was issued by Macapagal-Arroyo to justify US$87,757 (P23,587,000) of illegal releases from the OWWA to the Department of Labor and Employment’s International Labor Affairs Service (DOLE-ILAS). in October 1, 2003 as specified in its Board of Trustees Resolution number 40.
This resolution also approved an additional P43,000 for bank charges. In fact an extension of another release of the same amount P23,587,000 is detailed in a Landbank check number 0000196909 dated June 17, 2004.
“The said amounts were to fund the Overseas Comprehensive Social Service Package (OCSSP) of the government. This is not a program of the OWWA. Therefore sourcing of this funding should not be from OFW trust funds at the OWWA.
The timing of the secret disbursements were done to put up an image that Macapagal-Arroyo cared for OFWs. But in reality not a single peso from the national budget has been allocated to any government program for OFWs as specified in EO 287,” Bragas-Regalado said.
“It is also an absurdity of deploying 7 doctors and 8 social workers and paying them overseas allowances derived from OFW money. In Saudi Arabia for example, 2 doctors and 2 social workers were deployed to serve 915,000 Filipinos in the kingdom, which of course, was to put up a semblance of Macapagal-Arroyo’s concern for OFWs,” Bragas-Regalado added.
Other diplomatic posts that received doctors and social workers were Hong Kong (1 doctor and 1 social worker for 180,000 OFWs), Kuwait (1 doctor and 2 social workers for 60,000 OFWs), United Arab Emirates (1 doctor and 2 social workers for 140,000 OFWs), Bahrain (1 doctor for 30,000 OFWs), Korea (1 doctor for 20,000 OFWs) and Taiwan (1 social worker for 110,000 OFWs).
“These doctors and social workers went around distributing tablets of paracetamol to OFWs at the start of the campaign period in February 2004.
Thus, the illegal disbursements mentioned aided Gloria’s campaign visibility but did not extend much-needed services to the owners of the funds: the OFWs and their dependents.
We call on Congress to investigate this matter and to exert the appropriate actions to punish those who helped a fake and corrupt president to disburse OFW money to steal the elections,” Bragas-Regalado ended. #
News Release – August 8, 2005
Reference: Connie Bragas-Regalado, Chairperson
Contact Nos.: 0927-2157392 or 926-2838
More Illegal Disbursements OWWA Funds used to bolster Gloria’s image to OFWs prior to 2004 elections In this season of witnesses and damning testimonies against the Macapagal-Arroyo administration, an alliance of overseas Filipino groups puts out new evidence of high government officials’ abuse of discretion and illegal disbursements of OFW trust funds held by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration.
“Newly obtained government documents reveal that Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s operators in the Department of Labor and Employment and its attached agency OWWA authorized illegal disbursements of at least P23 million of overseas Filipino workers’ (OFW) trust funds prior to the last elections,” MIGRANTE International chairperson Connie Bragas-Regalado said.
Migrante presented Executive Order (EO) 287 that directs the depployment of ‘social welfare attaches’ in selected diplomatic posts dated February 24, 2004. This executive order was issued by Macapagal-Arroyo to justify US$87,757 (P23,587,000) of illegal releases from the OWWA to the Department of Labor and Employment’s International Labor Affairs Service (DOLE-ILAS). in October 1, 2003 as specified in its Board of Trustees Resolution number 40.
This resolution also approved an additional P43,000 for bank charges. In fact an extension of another release of the same amount P23,587,000 is detailed in a Landbank check number 0000196909 dated June 17, 2004.
“The said amounts were to fund the Overseas Comprehensive Social Service Package (OCSSP) of the government. This is not a program of the OWWA. Therefore sourcing of this funding should not be from OFW trust funds at the OWWA.
The timing of the secret disbursements were done to put up an image that Macapagal-Arroyo cared for OFWs. But in reality not a single peso from the national budget has been allocated to any government program for OFWs as specified in EO 287,” Bragas-Regalado said.
“It is also an absurdity of deploying 7 doctors and 8 social workers and paying them overseas allowances derived from OFW money. In Saudi Arabia for example, 2 doctors and 2 social workers were deployed to serve 915,000 Filipinos in the kingdom, which of course, was to put up a semblance of Macapagal-Arroyo’s concern for OFWs,” Bragas-Regalado added.
Other diplomatic posts that received doctors and social workers were Hong Kong (1 doctor and 1 social worker for 180,000 OFWs), Kuwait (1 doctor and 2 social workers for 60,000 OFWs), United Arab Emirates (1 doctor and 2 social workers for 140,000 OFWs), Bahrain (1 doctor for 30,000 OFWs), Korea (1 doctor for 20,000 OFWs) and Taiwan (1 social worker for 110,000 OFWs).
“These doctors and social workers went around distributing tablets of paracetamol to OFWs at the start of the campaign period in February 2004.
Thus, the illegal disbursements mentioned aided Gloria’s campaign visibility but did not extend much-needed services to the owners of the funds: the OFWs and their dependents.
We call on Congress to investigate this matter and to exert the appropriate actions to punish those who helped a fake and corrupt president to disburse OFW money to steal the elections,” Bragas-Regalado ended. #
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