Fighting windmills in the desert

Like Don Quixote dela Mancha, a Labor Attaché, like this writer, is virtually a passionate and highly committed warrior in the frontline, trying to put out fires with too limited resources, and a few poorly armed comrades fighting a battalion of superior army.

We have to contend with too many forces who are all committed to make us fail day in and day out. We endlessly slay the dragons of injustice as we work hard in order to seek redress for the OFWs' grievances of violations of work contract, illegal dismissals, non-payment or under-payment of salaries and contract substitution.

Phone calls summon us in the middle of the night appealing to be rescued and visited in hospitals, jails and detention centers yet the Labor Attaché's office does not even have a serviceable vehicle. Unarmed, we are expected to do battle with the rich and powerful employers, some greedy and arrogant recruiters, scheming brokers and traffickers and police and immigration authorities who don't have a healthy respect for migrant workers.

The spirit is willing; the budget is nil

There are 140 thousand OFWs in Kuwait, and there are only 10 staff working with the Labor Attaché. If only 10 percent would have a problem at any given time, the few personnel in the Labor office could not cope with the tremendous demands for services.

Each day, I need to sign more than a hundred work contracts and job orders. I have to interview more than 50 complainants with all sorts of woes, or counsel distressed, mauled and maimed maids who run away from employers after having been raped or physically abused. I need to answer scores of letters and take many phone calls.

I have to do all these by myself. I don't even have a clerk or a secretary nor an administrative assistant to do my reports and keeps my books of accounts, considering that I am tasked to collect thousands of dollars as fees that go to the coffers of the government. I don't have a serviceable vehicle yet I'm supposed to visit OFWs in jails, in hospitals and in houses of apprised and exploited Filipinos.

I have written appeal for more resources. I know my bosses are good and trying to help me. But still, the resources are not enough and the volume of work keeps on mounting at a geometric scale and dizzying pace. I am indeed a Don Quixote or a David in a den of Goliaths. Please pray for us.

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