Villar: Household staff ng mga Filipino diplomat iparehistro sa POEA, OWWA

Nanawagan si Senadora Cynthia Villar sa Department of Foreign Affairs na iparehistro ang lahat ng household staff ng mga Filipino diplomats sa Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) at tiyaking ang kanilang membership sa Overseas Workers’ Welfare Administration (OWWA) para sa mas maayos na proteksiyon sa lahat ng domestic worker.

Ginawa ni Villar ang panawagan sa gitna na diumano’y pagmaltrato sa isang domestic worker na dinala sa Brazil ni Philippine Ambassador Marichu Mauro.

Nang magsaliksik ang tanggapan ng senador sa POEA at OWWA, nadiskubre nitogn walang record ng employment  sa naturang dalawang ahensiya ang domestic worker ni Ambassador Mauro.

“Since our laws have clearly given the task of regulating overseas employment to the POEA and the care for the welfare of OFWs to OWWA, then this should also fairly apply to workers brought by ambassadors and other foreign service personnel to work in their residences abroad,” sabi ni Villar.

Ayon kay Villar, hindi na kailangan ang gumawa ng batas para i-institutionalize ang bagong sistema dahil wala namang pribadong recruitment ahensiyang sangkot at pareho namang Pilipino ang employer at manggagawa.

“Under POEA rules, diplomats are allowed to directly hire domestic workers, but their contracts still need to be registered with the POEA. Why was this not followed in the case of Ambassador Mauro? Or is this being followed at all?” sabi ni Villar.

“I hope that the DFA and the DoLE can just meet and discuss how to use existing laws and mechanisms to ensure the protection of domestic workers brought by our ambassadors to work overseas,” dagdag pa nito.

Sabi pa ng senadora, base sa video na inilabas sa Brazilian media, malinaw na nagkaroon ng pisikal na pag-abuso ang lady ambassador sa kanyang domestic helper.

“Perhaps, such acts of physical maltreatment and intimidation can be prevented with the participation of the POEA and OWWA in the hiring and deployment process to ensure a more transparent, professional and welfare-driven approach in the treatment of domestic workers under the domicile of Philippine diplomats,” lahad ni Villar.

Ayon pa dito, ang domestic worker overseas ay entitled sa scholarship benefits para sa kanilang mga dependent gayundin ang insurance at livelihood assistance bilang miyembro ng OWWA.

Kailangan din nilang sumailalim sa pre-departure orientation seminar para madagdagan ang kanilang kaalaman sa karapatan ng manggagawa.

“Why are the domestic workers of our ambassadors not even OWWA members? They should also be entitled to the same benefits as that enjoyed by overseas domestic workers hired by foreign employers,” sabi ni Villar.

Samantala, pinuri din nito ang Office of the President sa kanilang mabilis na aksiyon kung saan agad na inatasan ang Department of Foreign Affairs na imbestigahan ang diumano’y pag-maltrato ni Mauro sa kanyang kasambahay.

“This paves the way for an immediate, impartial investigation into the matter. I hope that the DFA will be very thorough in its investigation and even consider sending a team to Brazil to gather all the necessary evidence and testimonies needed to resolve this case,” ayon pa kay Villar.