As the Philippine Presidential poll campaign intensifies, there is a fresh call to abolish the Kafala system prevalent in the Middle Eastern countries.
This time, the call comes from the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) Family party list, which has vowed to continue its push to do away with the “exploitative” system that has been affecting the lives of Filipino domestic helpers.
Party nominee Roy Señeres Jr. reportedly said that the Kafala system, long being observed in the Middle East, has put Filipino domestic helpers “in their most vulnerable situation.”
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“Ang common the problema na naexperience ng womenfolk there working as domestic workers ay yung maltreatment, specifically yung trato sa kanila ng employer kung saan natatapakan ang dignidad nila as human beings,” Señeres was quoted as saying by Inquirer. “Kasi ang trato sa kanila base sa kultura ay sad to say ay commodity. Ang mentalidad ng employer doon ay ang laki ng binayaran ko sa yo so ang trato sa kanila ay slave o commodity.”
“Pagkatapos labhan ang damit namin at linisan ang ilang palapag, punta kayo sa bahay ng kapatid ko para maglinis doon na walang concern.”
Sometimes employers would resort to physical abuse if the domestic helpers complain about their mistreatment, Señeres said.
READ ON: Duterte warns Arab countries: ‘Dismantle kafala or lose Filipino workers’
“Nadyan na rin ang mga storya ng panggagahasa, violation of their honor. ‘Yun po ang mga bagay na kailangan ng tutok,” he added.
The Kafala system gives the employer or the sponsor ‘power’ over the immigration status and visa of the migrant worker. Simply put, the workers can’t leave without their employers’ permission, the report highlighted.
