DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS 
P R E S S  R E L E A S E
www.dfa.gov.ph                                                                                           2330 Roxas Blvd., Pasay City, Philippines                                                                                 Tel. No. 834-4000 
SFA-AGR-756-05                                                                                                                                                                                                                             14 October  2005

PHILCONGEN DUBAI FACILITATES REPATRIATION OF SEVEN OFWs

14 October 2005 – Consul General Generoso G. Calonge of the Philippine Consulate General in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that the Consulate and Labor Attaché Vicente M. Cabe have facilitated the repatriation of an OFW, and are processing the documents for the repatriation of six other OFWs after a labor dispute with their employment agency.

Consul General Calonge said that the seven OFWs who were supposed to work as domestic workers were taken into the custody of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) after their respective sponsors returned them to their employment agency.  According to their employers, the OFWs were allegedly “unable to cope” with their jobs.

Consul General Cologne said the Consulate took custody and provided food and lodging for the following OFWs:
 

1. Mirada Abe;
2. Sweet Ramona Apian;
3. Mary Jean Gad or;
4. Jeannie Llanos;
5. Analyze Nicolas;
6. Rosa May Sambas; and
7. Elisa de Vera.

Consul General Calonge stated that according to the OFWs, the agency owner got angry with them because they refused to be transferred to other employers when they had only been working for a month or two with their previous sponsors.  The OFWs said that the agency owner then threatened not to give them food.  He also demanded the payment of Pesos 80,000 from each of them for breach of contract before they could return to the Philippines.

Consul General Calonge said that after representations by the Consulate and the Labor Attaché, the agency owner agreed to cancel the visas of the OFWs to allow them to return to the Philippines.  The agency owner also agreed to pay for the plane tickets of the OFW and waive any monetary claims against them.

Consul General Calonge then reported that the first OFW to be repatriated was OFW Abao, who left for Manila on 9 October 2005.   OFWs Sambas and Llanos are also ready to be repatriated pending the confirmation of their flight.  OFWs Apawan and Nicolas have also been brought to the POLO in Abu Dhabi to have their visas canceled, while OFWs Gador and de Vera are waiting for their respective sponsors to sign the visa cancellation.

Consul General Calonge assured the Department that the Consulate will continue to assist the OFWs while their documents are being processed for their return to the Philippines, and will update the Department on further developments in the case.  END

/jay