The 12 Pinay nurses are now under the care of the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait
KUWAIT – Twelve Filipino nurses working for a homecare center were harassed after they filed a complaint against their company for several violations, including contract substitution.
The Filipinos were also kicked out of their accommodation after lodging a complaint with the Kuwait Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor against Homecare Company.
“Sobra naranasan namin dito sa Kuwait. Iyon na yong pananakit, yon na yong sasabihan kami ng anu-ano, masasamang salita. Tapos sa tagal ko na 3-and-a-half years na ako dito sa Kuwait, hindi man lang ako nakapag annual leave kasi ayaw akong payagan. Tapos wala kaming sick leave. Maski may sakit continue pa rin kami. Tapos yong pinirmahan naming kontrata dapat 150 (Kuwaiti Dinar) tapos binibigay sa amin 120 (Kuwaiti Dinar) lang,” said Homecare nurse Zahar Tulawie.
According to the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO), a homecare center nurse should be receiving a salary of not less than KD250 or P36,000.
“Six months na po ako dito sa Kuwait and then simula po nong dumating po ako dito natutulog po ako sa sala. Wala po akong sariling kwarto kasi yong accommodation namin meron lang po siyang dalawang kwarto. Sobrang liit po siya and then 15 po kami doon na pinagkakasya po namin sarili namin don. Banyo namin iisa lang,” said another nurse, Mitch Dulpina.
After they were kicked out, their female Lebanese manager also called authorities to bring them to the police station.
“Tapos hinihila ako ayaw kong sumama tapos sinampal niya ako ng dalawang beses. Malakas, masakit tapos hindi pa siya kuntento sinabihan ko Alla Esma, Allah Arab. Hindi siya nakikinig. Sinuntok pa niya ako dito. Hanggang sinipa niya ako dalawang beses dito, sobrang sakit ng ginawa sa akin ng pulis, tumatawa lang ang amo ko hindi po niya ako tinulungan,” said Menchie Vleasquez.
Embassy personnel immediately rushed to the police station to assist the Filipina nurses.
“We gave them some legal advice precisely to the four na nasaktan ng police apparently. Magre-reklamo kami sa hepe ng pulisya dito sa Kuwait. We will give them all the support with the shelter accommodation and legal assistance,” said Consul General Raul Dado.
Their case is still being handled by the Kuwait Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor. Of the 12, eight have already completed their two-year contact and under the Kuwait labor law, they could now change employers.
However, the remaining four expressed their intention to return to the Philippines.
Meanwhile, Homecare Company can no longer recruit Filipino staff after it was blacklisted by the POLO.
“Mga nurses kayo huwag ninyo patulan yong caregiver, kagaya ng medical center na ito. Marami ditong offer sa Kuwait ng nurses ang salary ay 250 (Kuwaiti Dinar). Huwag kayong papayag na less than 250 (Kuwaiti Dinar). Tingnan nyo sa POEA [Philippine Overseas Employment Administration] na meron silang approved job order,” Assistant Labor Attaché Angelita Narvaez, said.
By Maxxy Santiago, ABS-CBN Middle East News Bureau