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39 OFW victims of illegal recruitment in Malaysia get help


MANILA, Philippines - Help has been extended to 39 Filipino victims of illegal recruitment who were repatriated last week from Malaysia. The 39 victims, accompanied by Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) chief Carmelita Dimzon and Foreign Affairs undersecretary Esteban Conejos Jr., went to the Office of the Vice President (OVP) in Pasay City on Monday and asked for assistance. The OVP reportedly facilitated the settlement of their plane fare costs and the lowering of immigration compound penalties of 30 overstaying overseas Filipino workers (OFW). Among the OFWs who returned were: Heline Langeres, a woman who became blind due to cataract complications; Jayzel May Policarpio, a teacher who did not receive pay from her employer; Loven Punay, who went to Malaysia pregnant and was repatriated together with her two-month-old baby girl; and Cherry Ciego, who suffered physical abuse from her Malaysian employers. “It is a real pity that all of them experienced pain, abuse and some were even swindled of their hard-earned money," said Vice President Noli De Castro after hearing their stories. In a statement, De Castro said he immediately gave medical assistance to Langeres, instructing his social service staff to accompany her to the Philippine General Hospital to check if her cataracts can still be removed. Meanwhile, the OVP also said that it will provide skills and job trainings to the victims under the OVP-Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) program and will help them process their travel documents and requirements should they wish to go abroad again. “Again, I want to remind those who want to work abroad to please follow the right procedure and not to be conned by those who do not possess the authority to recruit from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA). Check it with POEA or with our office if your recruiters do have the license and are legally operating," said De Castro. The repatriation of the 39 OFWs was reportedly a result of the joint efforts of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office-OWWA and the Philippine Embassy’s Assistance to Nationals unit. - Kimberly Jane T. Tan, GMANews.TV
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