26 July 2005 – The Philippine Embassy in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that it is taking measures to protect a Filipino seamstress from harassment by her employer after winning her case for non-payment of salaries for 10 months.

Ambassador Bahnarim A. Guinomla said that OFW  Maria Consolacion Miguel  is facing a counter-charge for alleged theft after she filed a complaint against her employer Dalal Al Dahmis Al Tuwaim at the Saudi Labor Office in February 2004 for the latter’s failure to pay her salaries for 10 months.

According to the Ambassador, the case reached the Primary Commission where an amicable settlement was arrived at favoring Ms. Miguel.    Her employer was asked to pay her SR 4,700.00 and subsequently repatriate her to the Philippines.

The Philippine Embassy, however, learned later that her employer slapped Ms. Miguel with a counter charge before the Suwaidi Police Station, accusing her without evidence that she had allegedly stolen a machine from the shop where she was working.

Convinced that the employer acted in bad faith, Ambassador Guinomla said the Embassy wrote the authorities concerned to ask that the Primary Commission’s ruling be enforced and that Ms. Miguel’s rights be protected stressing that she be shielded from further harassment by her employer.

Ambassador Guinomla assured that the Embassy is closely monitoring the developments in the case of Ms. Miguel and will inform the Department of the results of the actions taken. END
 
 
 
 
 

/epa