Capitol vows to help 23 OFWs in Trinidad

CEBU - Governor Gwendolyn Garcia yesterday assured the families and relatives of the 23 Cebuano overseas Filipino workers now detained in the Caribbean country of Trinidad and Tobago that the provincial government will assist them in bringing them back to the country.

The 23 OFWs have been detained in Trinidad and Tobago after they were arrested by immigration officials there last September 19 for reportedly carrying dubious working papers.

The group composed of construction workers, electricians, and engineers from different places in Cebu, such as Argao town and Camotes Island, were reportedly hired last June through the Cebu City-based Glad Worldwide Placement Agency.

The group flew to Trinidad and Tobago last June to work with Multi-Task General Maintenance Co. Limited under a one-year contract.

However, the working permits given by the agency to the workers turned out to be just one-month work permit waivers that become legal only upon payment by the employer.

Garcia, fresh from her 10-day official visit in Russia, was informed last Thursday of the plight of the 23 OFWs.

Yesterday, she said that the province will shoulder the plane fare of the detained OFWs should they decide to come home.

Reportedly, the OFWs paid over P100,000 for the processing of their documents in going to Trinidad and Tobago.

But the employer allegedly failed to refund the workers’ air fare as agreed in the contract and did not also pay their salaries, among other violations.

This prompted the workers to transfer to another employer, but the owner of Multi-Task General Maintenance Co. asked immigration officials to arrest them.

Capitol is communicating with the Washington labor attaché, Florenda Herrera, who is now working on the documents for the release of the said OFWs.

Herrera said once the workers will be released, they will be asked if they would still want to stay in Trinidad and Tobago or return to the Philippines. — Garry B. Lao/MEEV (THE FREEMAN)