A total of 130 Filipinos employed by a construction company have stopped working for two weeks after their firm failed to pay their wages for four months.
“Gusto ko lang sana mangyari, matulungan kami ng agency na maka survive naman kahit papaano sa may lending namin,” said Ramon Doria.
The workers also appealed to the Philippine Embassy for help.
“Nanawagan po kami sa embassy natin na sana po tulungan kami maayos ang problema dito. Sa katunayan po, ang aming mga pamilya sa Pilipinas ay nagugutom na rin. Sana matulungan kami,” said Adrian Sangalan.
The embassy replied by saying it continues to monitor their case.
“For now, there is an ongoing case at the Ministry of Labor so we are monitoring that. If that does not work out, we will go to the courts to file for the case and we have an embassy team in place composed of case officers and lawyers to assist the workers in this case for the full resolution of all their claims including salary claim, compensation claim and other damages if appropriate,” said Vice Consul Shiena Tesorero.
The group first sought help from Balitang Global in March. The first organization to reach out to them was the members of the True & Reformed Overseas Pilipino Association or Tropa.
“Kami po ay patuloy na handang tumulong sa ating mga kababayan sa abot ng aming makakaya. Ang organisasyong Tropa po ay narito at itinatag upang makatulong lamang sa ating mga kababayan,” said Tropa president Christopher Hernandez.
Even non-Filipinos like Kuwaiti businessman Mohammad al Buhairi extended his assistance to the workers. He promised to provide them with one month’s supply of food.
“I have heard they don’t have food, that’s why my office, Al Dahani Manpower, I bring the food for them from the market immediately because I’ve heard that they are not eating. I would like to help the Filipino people,” he said.
By Maxxy Santiago, ABS-CBN Middle East News Bureau
Via :Abs-Cbn News
