Struggling and Surviving in Kuwait: Another Tale of OFW Woes

BY AUBREY MAKILAN

Bulatlat

They scrounge garbage bins for leftover food and for anything to sell. If they were able raise 100 fils, approximately 37 cents, from selling cans, cartons and anything that they found in the garbage bin, they would be able to buy kubos or Arabian bread for their meal. They pile up debts amounting to KD500 ($1,830 at an exchange rate of KD1=U$3.66) in a sari-sari store (convenience store). And when these were not enough, they even beg for food or money from fellow Filipinos in Kuwait. All these, they had to endure to survive in Kuwait.

As if these were not enough, two of the 49 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Kuwait who have complained of contract violations by their employer have more things to worry about. Jason Baldoza and Arnold Mirando who are just waiting for their unpaid salaries to be able to buy plane tickets for their trip back to the Philippines are worried that they would be left with nothing if they are not able to collect soon. Their Iqama or civil ID expired on March 9 and a penalty of KD 2 ($7.32) would be deducted from their unpaid salaries daily for as long as they stay in Kuwait without a valid contract and Iqama.

Contract violations

The 49 OFWs were recruited and deployed to Kuwait by the Great Provider Service Exporters, Inc. Before being deployed to Kuwait, they signed contracts with the Kuwait & Gulf Link Transport Company (KGL). The contract even had the seal of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) and was verified by the Philippine labor attaché in Kuwait. But when they arrived in Kuwait, some of them were made to sign a side agreement stating that their employer would be the Gulf Coast Shipping Services Co This was an anomalous agreement that the Philippine labor attaché in Kuwait said was in order and legal.

As it turned out, all the 49 OFWs were subcontracted by KGL to different employers. While those who were made to sign the side agreement worked with Gulf Coast Shipping Services, others were subcontracted to other companies to work as cleaners, tea boys, security guards and warehousemen, according to the Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants (APMM) and Migrante-Kuwait. Adding to their woes, Gi Estrada, APMM Area Coordinator in Kuwait, said that the salaries of the 49 OFWs were either delayed or were not given at all. Except for nine workers who have been in the company for nine years, majority of the 49 OFWs have been in KGL for a little more than a month to three months.

Aside from the delays, KGL made several deductions from their KD60 ($219) monthly salaries: KD5 ($18) for transportation, KD5 ($18) for accommodations, KD6 ($21.96) for airfare for 24 months, which was practically for the whole duration of their contract. Thus, their salary amounted to only KD44 ($161.04) a month, even lower by a KD to the monthly wage of a domestic helper in Kuwait. The KD5 for accommodations deducted from them is for a small flea-infested room where 25 OFWs were made to share.