Filtered By: Topstories
News

Labor chief asked to look into use of POLO office in Doha as male quarters


MANILA, Philippines — Migrante International’s Middle East chapter on Tuesday asked Labor Secretary Marianito Roque to look into complaints that part of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Doha, Qatar are being used as male quarters for its staff on the same compound where female distressed OFWs are temporarily seeking refuge. John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator, said concerned OFWs have expressed fears that the safety and security of distressed OFWs being housed at the shelter being maintained by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) would be put at risk under such arrangement. “Reports reaching Migrante –Middle East disclosed that some of the distressed female OFWs are being harassed by some POLO-OWWA male staff," Monterona said. According to some OFWs frequenting OWWA shelters in the Middle East, cases of POLO-OWWA male staff taking advantage of distressed OFWs is not uncommon. He said concerned OFWs who have just visited POLO offices compound the last few weeks have noticed that some of POLO offices were converted into accommodation of POLO-OWWA male staff. Migrante-ME said POLO-OWWA must have a separate accommodation for its staff to be rented and provided by the Philippine Embassy in Doha. Monterona said Migrante-ME had already conveyed this particular concern to the Philippine Embassy through formal letter sent on Feb. 26, and it was acknowledged by RP embassy. But until now, we have not received an affirmative action from POLO-OWWA about this matter," Monterona added. “Thus, we are calling the attention of Labor Secretary Roque to remind his officials in Doha about this concern …," Monterona added. Migrante-ME is likewise calling the attention of POLO-OWWA officials in Doha to fast track solving the problems of runaway OFWs so that they could be repatriated right after the resolution of their respective cases.
LOADING CONTENT