OFWs naivete and carelessness

KUWAIT — Many OFWs come to me in the Embassy, crying because they were supposedly made to sign a contract with substantially lesser salaries and benefits, compared to the standard POEA contract which the Labor Attaché verified and the Embassy authenticated. Of course we could not entirely blame these people, if they can hardly read or write in English or Arabic. But if they are college graduates with excellent academic records, who are very articulate (sabi nila “articulate” daw means “maarte” na “makulit” pa.), how can you not blame these people? They are very demanding and overbearing when they demand attention by the Embassy. But in front of their recruiters and employers, they are as meek as lambs.

Some OFWs do sign contracts without reading the fine prints. They sign quit claims and release documents and then, later on, demand that the Labor Attaché work for their revocation or abrogation. They surrender their passports to their employers and demand that the Embassy should take them back. They borrow money from usurers or guarantee the debts of some friends who abscond and then expect the Labor Attaché to get them out of such a mess.

Covetousness and indiscretions

I am writing two columns in Kuwait: One, the “Itanong Mo Kay Labatt” (Labor attaché) JBJ in the Kuwait Time’s Panorama, that comes out every Sunday, and another in the monthly magazines called TFM (The Filipino Magazine), entitled “Isumbong Mo Kay Labatt JBJ” Instead of getting employment-related questions which I expect, the bulk of the queries concern annulment of marriage, adultery, concubinage, bigamy, rape, acts of lusciviousness, seductions and infidelity. I was extremely scandalized by the vivid descriptions made by one OFW, who confessed that she is married and her husband is alive in the Philippines but she is currently carrying a torrid love and sex affair with her male employer. This boss often sneaks back into the house when the lady is already gone to work. And they make love everyday. She admitted having gradually fallen for the boss, who lavishes her with a laptop, expensive cell phones and a lot of money.

 She had the stomach to ask for legal advice. I really scolded her, telling her that I am not judging her at all, but since she asked for it, I gave it to her, no holds barred. First, She is committing a mortal sin before God. Second, She is committing an illegal act punishable by death in an Islamic country.

Third, she is committing a criminal act under the Philippine Penal code. Fourth, She seriously breached the trust of her female boss. Fifth, She committed a grievous treachery and unfaithfulness against her husband. Sixth, she put the Filipino women in bad light in the Arab country. Seventh, she is ruining her own self-respect and dignity. She will regret it all her life. She called me and said “Napakasakit mo namang magpayo Kuya”. To which I replied, “Mirese! Napakasakit lagi Day, ang tinood.” Again, don’t get me wrong, majority of our OFWs are excellent. These few bad eggs are destroying their good names. Pastilan gayod.

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