MANILA, Philippines - Runaway overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Kuwait now living at a halfway home have accused a Philippine assistant labor attaché in the Kuwait of engaging in human trafficking.
Jenny (not her real name), an OFW who sought shelter at the halfway home run by Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), accused assistant labor attaché Ofelia Castro Hudson of "selling" them to agencies there in exchange for "cash and gifts."
"Merong magpapatunay na inabutan sya ng sobre ng ahensya at mga regalo," she said.
The OFWs are then forced to work against their will, Jenny added.
Hudson is reportedly in a rift with welfare officer in Kuwait Atty. William Mergenio, whom the runaways believe is protecting their interests and is fighting for their repatriation.
"Tinatakot nila mga runaways tapos...kinukulong. Hinahagisan pagkain sa loob ng parang aso. Di papalabasin puwera pag merong bagong amo," Jenny alleged.
Ana, another runaway OFW, said labor officers were allegedly forcing her to stay and work for another employer despite her traumatic experience with her former employer.
"Sabi nila na 'magtrabaho ka madami ka utang.' Ano pakialam nila? Ako nakaranas ng maltrato dito," she said.
Runaway OFWs also complained about their prolonged stay in Kuwait.
Jenny said employers conjure cases against them, which make their situation more dire.
"Sa tagal ng stay... nakakasuhan na sila. Lalong di nakakauwi," she said.
Jenny, Anna and other runaway OFWs bared their complaints in affidavits.
Administrator Carmelita Dimzon said most OFWs stay longer in Kuwait because they could not secure exit passes from their employers.
"The moment they leave, they are violating the laws of the country. The employers won't secure exit passes and maybe file a case against the OFW. Minsan imbento talaga, but that's the case. Our welfare officer is espousing their repatriation and sue the agencies," she added.
Dimzon, meanwhile, said she has yet to verify reports of alleged human trafficking and political bickering between its welfare and labor officers.
Source: http://ph.news.yahoo.com/labor-attach-kuwait-involved-trafficking-142101886.html
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