Nangako si OFW Party-list Representative Marissa Magsino na tutulong sa pagbuo ng mas makataong working condition para sa mga OFW sa Saudi Arabia.
Kasunod ito ng town-hall meeting na inorganisa ng OFW Party-list at Philippine Embassy sa naturang bansa kasama ang Filipino migrant workers doon.
Ani Magsino, titiyakin niya na magiging paborable sa mga OFW ang nakatakdang negosasyon para sa bagong Bilateral Labor Agreements ng both General/Skilled Workers at Domestic/Household Service Workers Saudi Arabia sa darating na Oktubre.
Kabilang dito ang pagtutok sa kanilang mental health at pagkakaroon ng social activites.
Ang mga OFW kasi sa Saudi ay hindi na-e-enjoy ang kanilang day off dahil sa kawalan ng access sa public transport.
At dahil ang iba ay nananatili lang sa bahay ng kanilang amo ay napipilitan silang magtrabaho na lang.
“Unlike their counterparts in other countries who enjoy a weekly day-off where they spend a whole day of fun, unwinding and relaxing, workers in Saudi Arabia are unable to do so due to the lack of access to public mass transport. They are without means to fund personal transportation; thus, they have fewer opportunities to socialize outside of work. They also stay at their employer’s house or at their workplace, and so they are tasked to continue working even on their supposed rest days. Hindi lang ito nakakapagod physically, kung hindi emotionally and mentally din,” sabi ni Magsino.
Kasama rin sa itutulak ng kinatawan ay maitaas na ang sweldo ng household service workers na na mula 2012 ay nasa $400 US dollars.
“Just imagine with all the inflation and taxes imposed by the Saudi government, the OFWs are left with a small amount for them to send to their families and, mostly, they cannot save money,” dagdag ng mambabatas.
Sa kasalukuyan ay mayroong 864,000 na Pilipino sa Saudi Arabia. | ulat ni Kathleen Jean Forbes
