Kin Suspects Foul Play in Death of Qatar OFW

The family of an overseas Filipino worker who was found dead at the top of her rented apartment in Doha, Qatar on September 4, 2011 is suspecting that there was foul play involved based on the initial observation on her remains, according to a Filipino migrants rights group Migrante-Middle East.

Migrante-Middle East (M-ME) through its local chapter, the Samahan ng Migranteng Mangagawa in Qatar (SAMMAQA), on Sept.25 reported OFW Edielyn Buno Mirasol, 28 years old, from Tagum, Davao City, was found dead at the top of the apartment where she is residing on September 4, 2011 in Doha, Qatar.

SAMMAQA reported that a fellow OFW and flat-mate found her laid back on top of the platform with rope on her neck. The fellow OFW reported to the local police on the same day OFW Edilyn was found dead.

“Our Migrante chapter in Davao City confirmed that OFW Edielyn remains’ arrived in Tagum, Davao on Sept.30,” said John Leonard Monterona, M-ME regional coordinator.

Monterona added that Migrante-Davao were able to talked to one of the sisters of OFW Edielyn as the group asked its Migrante chapter in Davao to convey their sympathy to the OFW’s family and relatives.

Continue reading at Migrant Rights

Pag-IBIG Fund Membership Must for Qatar Overseas Filipino Workers

The Pag-IBIG Fund membership has been made mandatory for all Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) as a pre-requisite for the issuance of an overseas employment certification, a Philipine Embassy spokesperson has disclosed.

The Pag-IBIG Fund is a convenient savings system for the Filipino workers through monthly contributions, that earn annual dividends, which are credited to the member’s account.

The new development has necessitated the signing of a collection agreement between the Fund and the Philippines Overseas Employment Agency (POEA), which provides OFWs leaving the Philippines with a more convenient registration system as well as an accessible and affordable remittance facility.

Under the agreement, the POEA collects Pag-IBIG membership contributions of P100 from OFWs going abroad as provided for under the 2010 collection servicing agreement between the agency and the Pag-IBIG Fund.

The Fund’s desk in the Philippine Overseas Labour office in Bin Omran area collects contributions and registers members in Qatar.

Continue reading at Gulf Times

UAE, Kuwait, Qatar Face Ban on Filipino Maids

Filipino maids At Kuwait Airport. Photo credit: Arab Times

The Philippines government could soon issue a ban on the deployment of domestic workers to three Gulf countries because it says it cannot guarantee their protection.

According to media reports from Manila on Friday, the deployment of household service workers (HSW) to Kuwait, the UAE and Qatar could grind to a halt after the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) recommended a ban.

Filipino maids are currently subject to a separate ban from Saudi Arabia after the kingdom said it was seeking new sources for foreign workers.

The Department of Labour and Employment said it had made the recommendation after the three countries failed to comply with Republic Act 10022 or the Amended Migrant and Overseas Filipino Workers Act of 1995, Manila newspapers reported.

Continue reading at Arabian Business