Malaysia is one of Asia's biggest employers of foreign labour. But recently, cases of deaths, abuse and forced labour have come to light. What is going on? Who is protecting these migrant workers?
The OFW came to Malaysia as a tourist in October 2005. She told the Embassy
that she worked as a singer at various clubs in Johor Bahru, which borders Singapore,
until 07 May 2007, when her pregnancy started to become obvious. She initially
stayed at a house of a friend until August 2007, when she approached the Johor
Overseas Filipino Association (JOFA), a Filipino community organization in Johor
Bahru. The group brought her to the Philippine Embassy in Kuala Lumpur. The
OFW claimed that her passport was taken by her agent, who is a foreign national
and who had left Malaysia for good.
<p>When the OFW arrived at the Embassy on the night of 06 September 2007, she
sought assistance for her repatriation to the Philippines. However, she was
already 37 weeks pregnant and, because of her advanced stage of pregnancy, air
travel was not possible.</p>
<p>In this regard, the OFW was provided temporary shelter at the Filipino Workers
Resource Center (FWRC), a skills training center for OFWs managed by the Office
of the Labor Attache of the Embassy. The Embassy attended to the OFW while waiting
for her date of delivery. On 11 and 19 September 2007, Assistance-to-Nationals
(ATM) Officer Jerico N. Redito, OWWA Administrative Assistant Brenda D. Olinares,
and DSWD Administrative Assistant Latifa Bonajal accompanied the OFW to a clinic
for pre-natal consultations. These officers also counseled the OFW, a first-time
mother, and helped her prepare for the delivery of her baby.</p>
<p>On 24 September 2007, ATN Officer Redito and DSWD Administrative Assistant
Bonajal again accompanied the OFW to the Kuala Lumpur General Hospital because
she was showing signs of an impending delivery. The OFW was admitted to the
hospital and on the night of the same day, she delivered a baby boy. Several
Embassy personnel visited the OFW in the hospital and brought her food and items
needed by the baby.</p>
<p>On 25 September 2007, Vice Consul Shirlene C. Mananquil, Social Welfare Attache
Nestor B. Ramos and DSWD Administrative Assistant Bonjal facilitated the discharge
of the OFW and her baby from the hospital. Both were then taken to the FWRC
for temporary shelter. The OFW and her baby will continue to stay at the FWRC
until the infant is certified fit to travel to the Philippines.</p>
<p><i>Source: http://pinoypress.net/2007/10/03/ofw-who-delivered-baby-in-kl-gets-help</i>
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