MANILA - An overseas Filipina worker (OFW) in Al-Khobar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia won her case against her employer who refused to pay her salaries and benefits amounting to 64,750 Saudi Arabian Riyals (SAR), or equivalent to about P754,970, Labor Attache to Al-Khobar Alejandro Padaen said.In his report to Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz, Padaen identified the OFW as Marilou I. Nicdao, of Pampanga, who worked a
s a beautician for her employer Sahar Al-Motabagani in Bandaria, Al Khobar. She has been working in Al-Khobar for 14 years.
Having extended her contract, Nicdao asked her employer for a final exit. Her employer obliged and secured her final exit clearance. She was scheduled to depart for the Philippines on 6 May 2014.
However, Nicdao refused to return home since she has not yet received her salaries and benefits which the employer insisted were already given to her.
OFW Nicdao decided to file a complaint at the Ladies’ Section of the Al-Khobar Labor Office, which initially rejected her complaint because it was not written in Arabic.
She decided to seek the help of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Al-Khobar. With the help of a local hire, Bajunaid Andi, the POLO prepared her complaint in Arabic, claiming for two months of unpaid salary for every year of the last 14 years of service, two years vacation leave, and repatriation.
Accompanied by a POLO staff, OFW Nicdao returned to the Ladies’ Section of the Al Khobar Labor Office to once again file her complaint, this time, written in the required Arabic language. However, the Ladies’ Section refused to accept her complaint, saying that her employer informed them that she has already received all her salaries and benefits.
POLO staff Andi appealed OFW Nicdao’s case to the General Manager of the Labor Office, who immediately ordered the Ladies’ Section to accept her complaint. It was docketed and a subpoena was eventually issued to her employer.
On 12 May 2014, a hearing was held at the Labor Office between OFW Nicdao, POLO staff Andi, and the employer’s representative and lawyer. Together with documentary evidences, OFW Nicdao presented her claims as follows: SAR11,250 for end-of-service benefits (ESB) for the first five years; SAR 40,500 for the 6th to 14th year; SAR9,000 for two months' unpaid salary; and SAR4,500 for two years’ worth of vacation leaves amounting to a total of SAR65,250.
The employer’s representative and the lawyer studied her claims and eventually said that the employer will pay OFW Nicdao all her claims less the SAR500 cash advance she made. Hence, an order was rendered for the employer to pay OFW Nicdao an amount of SAR64,750.
On 16 May 2014, OFW Nicdao received her unpaid salaries and benefits and was also given her exit visa and ticket.
“Malaki ho ang pasasalamat ko kay Sir Andi at sa buong tanggapan ng POLO sa pagtulong nila sa kaso ko. Kung 'di po dahil sa tulong sa akin ng POLO, hindi ko po siguro matatanggap ang mga benepisyong matagal ko na sanang natanggap mula sa aking amo,” Nicdao said.
“Masaya na po akong uuwi sa Pilipinas,” she added.
On 19 May 2014, OFW Nicdao was repatriated back to the Philippines.
“We are grateful for the assistance extended by the Al-Khobar Labor Office to the case of OFW Nicdao. I would also like to call on our OFWs who are facing problems with their employers, or with their work not to hesitate to seek assistance from our POLOs in their countries of destination,” Baldoz said.
“This is also an instruction to all staff in all POLOs worldwide to reach out and help, as much as you can, all OFWs who will ask for your assistance,” she added.
Source: interaksyon.com/article
