Distressed OFW experiences delays in salary, being starved by employer

An overseas Filipino worker narrated how she suffered in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday after being starved by her employer and delaying her salary.

Mary Jane Manganip, 32 years old, a resident of Kalinga province, served as a domestic helper in Abu Dhabi for five years said that the employer did not comply with the contract which states that she must have at least one day rest per week.

"We really don't have any days off, they didn't fulfill what was stated in the contract that we should have one day of rest every week," she said.

Mary Jane added that she only eats once a day the same as her other co-workers.

"I'm constantly working and I lack proper meals. My employer starves me, I only eat once a day. I am being starved by my employer and I'm also overworked. We don't have any days off, and my salary is always delayed. My employer always shouts at me, and I couldn't handle it anymore, so I decided to escape," Mary Jane said.

The distressed Filipina added that there is a cook who watches over the maids trying to sneak into the pantry to get food.

"There is someone who guards the kitchen for employers. He keeps an eye on which maid tries to get food from the pantry. The food given to us for our daily meals is limited. We only eat what is provided to us," lamented Mary Jane."

Mary Jane escaped and went to the embassy to seek assistance for her return to the Philippines. When asked if she has plans to go abroad, she expressed her willingness to take another chance for her family.

"I am happy that I have returned. I am the breadwinner of our family. I still plan to work abroad. Why not? But I hope it is in another country. All I ask is for me to land in a good employer who treats me well," the distressed Filipino said.

Now that Mary Jane has returned to her country, she plans to spend time with her parents and siblings as she has not been back to the Philippines since 2018.

Mary Jane is one of the 35 distressed OFWs who arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 from Abu Dhabi and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The OFWs were welcomed by Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Administrator Arnel Ignacio, Department of Migrant Workers Assistant Secretary Venecio Legaspi, and officers from the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, Technical Education and Skills Development or TESDA, and the Department of Health.

19 distressed workers from Abu Dhabi received P10,000 each, as did the 16 distressed workers from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.