OWWA to probe case of 38 duped OFWs in Qatar

MANILA, Philippines - The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) said that it is looking into the case of the 38 Filipino workers in Qatar who filed a case against their employer last March. In a statement, OWWA said that it has already set a hearing on May 13 to investigate the case of the Filipino workers who earlier complained of lack of food and poor living conditions. [See: Duped Filipinos forced to beg for money on Qatar's streets] It added that it has also invited SML Human Resource, Inc. to the hearing, the recruiter whom the workers have accused of violating their contracts. The Philippine Embassy in Qatar, meanwhile, has reportedly been assisting the overseas Filipino workers (OFW) in holding “representations" with their employer. The 38 workers first filed a case against their employer with the labor court of Qatar last March 26 but the court reportedly failed to come up with a compromise. This, OWWA said, prompted the OFWs to stop working until a higher court has come up with a decision. The workers were initially 40 but two returned to the Philippines after their contracts expired. The rest opted to stay at an accommodation provided by their employer. - Kimberly Jane T. Tan, GMANews.TV