At least 100 overseas Filipino workers, most of them distressed household service workers, are due to arrive home from Jordan this month.
Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said most of the workers are now sheltered at the Filipino Workers Resource Center (FWRC) at the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Amman.
“Filipinos who were detained for violation of Jordan’s immigration laws and those serving sentences for minor offenses, including all wards at the FWRC who have incurred ‘overstay’ penalties prior to June 1, 2011 will benefit from the law [Jordan’s General Pardon Law of 2011],” Baldoz said in a news release posted on the government portal.
She said at least 42 of the 100 OFWs were scheduled to have already arrived in Manila as of Friday.
Baldoz also said she had approved the release of $5,000 (about P215,000) to cover for immigration penalties.
She said the government of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan recently approved its General Pardon Law of 2011.
The law cleared all criminal and misdemeanor offenses, violations and acts that took place before June 1, 2011 and exempting offenders from the payment of fees and fines for specific cases.
POLO Jordan Labor Attaché Virginia Calve requested the Philippine Embassy to provide for the tickets for the 100 wards at the FRWC.
Note: When a ‘domestic worker’ works with a family the employer needs to pay the work and residence permits. If they do not the employer should be punished and not the worker. (after the worker leaves the employment then of course she would be responsible herself for these costs).
Categories: Asia, Economics, Human Rights, Jordan, Law