A migrant advocate said that death of overseas Filipina worker (OFW) Joanna Demafelis revealed flaws in government response in handling cases of abuse involving OFWs.
According to Center for Migrant Advocacy executive director Ellene Sana, OFWs are asked to repeatedly call Philippine offices to get results of their complaints, however, many of these OFWs would not have a chance to call again.
“Baka nga hindi na siya makatawag, mabuti nga nakatawag siya ng isang beses. You don’t react that way, that you take your time,” Sana told GMA News.
“Treat it with a sense of urgency,” she said.
Meanwhile, Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) administrator Hans Leo Cacdac said that recruitment agencies also hold a responsibility in monitoring OFWs.
“Ang role ng recruitment agency, hindi natatapos kapag kumabig na siya nung pera niya o kita niya, sa pagde-deploy dun sa worker na ‘yun,” Cacdac said.
POEA has since recalled welfare officers in Kuwait for lack of urgent action when Demafelis was reported missing by her family in Iloilo.
“May hustisya dapat doon, may mananagot dapat diyan,” Sana said.
On February 9, the Philippine government announced the total deployment ban of OFWs to Kuwait following the death of Joanna Demafelis whose body was found inside a freezer of an apartment in the Gulf state.
Since the imposition of the deployment ban, thousands of Filipino workers have repatriated to the Philippines.
A team of Filipino senior officials is also in Kuwait to present a memorandum of agreement to the Kuwaiti government containing requests that would protect the rights of migrant workers in the country.
