While OFWs main purpose for working abroad is to earn sufficiently for their families, it is hard to imagine that some among them suffer because of delayed salaries.
Recently, the mother and wife of an OFW named Noli Aguilar went to ABS CBN’s “Lingkod Kapamilya” and asked for help.
According to Noli’s mother, Lea, she is worried about her son’s condition.
“Kung diyan ka magpipilit para lumipat, iyun at iyun din ang magiging problema. Ayaw kong nagkakaproblema kayo dahil trabaho hanap suweldo, hindi trabaho nang trabaho walang sweldo.”
Noli who was working as a mechanical engineer said that his salary had been delayed for almost 5 months already.
Last week, 6 among his co-workers had asked for an advice from the Philippine Embassy regarding their concern.
“Yung Philippine embassy dito tinawagan yung boss namin, at HR namin…nagbigay naman sila ng promise na ibibigay yung sahod namin. Hindi namin alam kung one month o two months o full salary namin,” Noli added.
However, the embassy told them to advise them should their employer failed to comply with their promise.
Noli claimed, at this point, it won’t be a practical decision to go back to the Philippines and look for a new job. He said he went to Kuwait as a professional and all he is up to is to receive his salary and find a better job with an employer who can provide them a better opportunity because he knows his family was having a hard time with their finances.
“Thank you sa pag-aalala. Alam ko na kayo ay nahihirapan diyan. Kami rin rito nahihirapan. Ang akin na lamang ay mabayaran ang mga utang diyan. Dito may mga utang din kami hindi pa namin nababayaran. Uuwi man ako, ang problema ganu’n pa rin. San ako kukuha ng perang pampalakad ng mga papeles ko diyan? Saan ako kukuha? May asawa’t anak na ako di ko man lang ma-provide.”
The OFW also asked for his family’s support and understanding while he is going through this difficult stage. He asked them to just trust him and pray for him.
“Andito na rin ako. Dito ko na rin hahanapin kung anong merong mapupuntahan dito, magsikap ako dito. Ang akin lang magtiwala kayo, magdasal at magtiis.”
Meanwhile, Noli’s wife looks forward to his return and misses him more as he won’t be around for their child’s birthday celebration next week.
Noli said, he also wants to go home but then, he hopes before he’ll take a vacation, he is able to find a new job.
Welfare Officer Josephine Tobia of OWWA said Noli can run after his Philippine agency just in case problem with his salary continues.
“We will compel the Philippine recruitment agency to assist the worker to ensure na ‘yung kanilang salary claims ay maibigay kaagad.”
Noli then thanked his family for informing “Lingkod Kapamilya” about his problem in Kuwait and requested them to remain their trust in him.
