Overseas Filipino workers or OFWs, and most Filipinos, are used to borrowing money from lenders here in the Philippines. And often, they bring this attitude even when they’re working abroad.

The United Arab Emirates is one country that offers loans or credit cards with low interest rates for borrowers. Many OFWs can’t say no to such temptations. So OFWs apply for loans or credit cards, without thinking for a million times if they’ll be able to pay for its charges or not.

And this is where situations get worse. Because most OFWs just grab the offers, they fail to see the hidden charges underneath and the consequences they’ll face.

Advice to OFWs: Avoid Loan Sharks

According to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), an alarming number of OFWs in the UAE were detained due to loan cases.

Tips for OFWs: Don’t Be a Victim of Loan Sharks

DFA had advised OFWs to take extra precaution when taking loans or credit cards.  Failure to pay for it may result to civil or criminal charges filed by the lenders, whether banks or individuals. Bouncing checks issued also face the same charges, since lenders require  OFWs  to attach their signatures on blank checks as part of their security measures.

Debt-related cases in UAE are difficult to handle, because a travel ban is imposed for civil cases. This means that OFWs will not be allowed to leave UAE because of unpaid loans or credit card charges. Co-makers and guarantors will also be apprehended and detained for this.

OFWs should learn to manage their money wisely to avoid making loans since failure to pay for it will result to consequences they wouldn’t want to experience with their work abroad. Learn to live with what you earn OFWs, so you can return to your family waiting for you.

Tip for OFWs: How to Avoid Loan Sharks

*source: globalnation.inquirer.net

Overseas Filipino workers or OFWs have been taking every jobs possible to earn for their family. And many illegal recruiters were taking advantage of this eagerness from OFWs to work abroad.

How to Avoid Illegal Recruitment

For most OFWs, being a household service worker or HSWs is the easiest way for them to work abroad and reach for their dreams. Many of the OFWs working abroad as HSWs were deployed in Middle East, as demand for the service continues to rise.

But when the UAE Ministry of Interior imposed a new standard contract for HSWs to protect both them and their employers rights, the deployment was affected.

OFWs are brought by using fake job position. They are fronted as sales ladies, clerks, cashier, waitress or salon staff just to meet the demands for HSWs. Illegal recruiters not only exposed OFWs to possible abuse by foreign employers, but themselves as well to penalties from the Philippine government.

How to Identify Overseas Job Scams

OFWs are warned over and over again not to accept job offers abroad from recruiters who would give them work visa for jobs they didn’t apply to. They’re also reminded not to sign a new contract upon arriving at their work destination abroad.

Beware of Employment Contract Substitution

Presently, POEA are implementing strict rules regarding HSWs deployment in the Middle East. But this applies only to new hires and does not affect OFWs who’ve been in and out of the Kingdom to work as HSWs.

*source: Gulfnews

Overseas Filipino workers or OFWs are constantly reminded not to make illegal acts abroad to avoid consequences.

Earlier this month, six Filipinos were arrested for smuggling diesel from Saudi Arabia to another Gulf country.

In a news report from Arab News, the OFWs, together with an Egyptian and a Pakistani, were to face 10-years jail term and to pay large amount for stealing diesel from the kingdom.

The Filipino community in Saudi Arabia were embarrassed about the news and appeal to all OFWs submit to the kingdom’s existing laws. OFWs must limit their activities to their work abroad and basic lifestyle requirements to survive in Saudi Arabia.

Saidy Malic, a Filipino community leader,  appeal to OFWs to be loyal to their employers and exercise professional conduct.

Before leaving the Philippines for their overseas jobs, OFWs undergo pre-departure orientation seminar or PDOS to give them an overview about their destination country’s culture, laws and other informations.

FB Etiquette for OFWs to be Included in PDOS

OFWs represent the Philippines as they work abroad, and so committing such crimes will define not only them but all other OFWs and the whole country as well.

Guide articles for working in Saudi Arabia

Breach of Contract in KSA: All You Need to Know

OFWs in KSA Learn This: How to Compute for OT Pay

OFWs Transferring Sponsor? Know Your Company’s Category

Beware of Employment Contract Substitution

Final Exit Visa Guidelines for OFWs in Saudi Arabia

Most of the time, overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) complain about the long wait for the processing of their documents from recruitment agencies. The recruitment agencies’ reply would be turned to the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA)’s slow processing of papers.

Good news, not only for OFWs, but for the recruitment agencies as well! POEA now has a solution to this problem. They now offer two online services, the e-payment and the Recruitment Authority Issuance systems.

POEA-licensed recruitment agencies can now request for processing of contracts (RFP) online  for their hired workers.  And the moment it was approved, they can now pay the fees through POEA-accredited banks via the ePayment system. Recruitment agencies can also print the overseas employment certificate (OEC) of the hired worker.

The Recruitment Authority Issuance System on the other hand, allows application for the approval and issuance of special recruitment authority or SRA and letter of acknowledgement. It also grant agencies to upload documentary requirements and view their application status.

SRA and letter of acknowledgement are issued for agencies to be able to conduct activities inside or outside their premises.

POEA Administrator Hans Leo J. Cacdac has also encouraged all recruitment agencies to use the online services which aims to promote a culture of efficiency, accountability and transparency.

But POEA clarified that these online services will be for processing documents of OFWs that are skilled and professional workers only. Contracts for household service workers or HSWs will still pass close examination and evaluation like before.

* source here.

More must-read articles:

Guide Steps to Work Abroad for Filipinos

Work Abroad 101 (Useful Q&A for Filipinos)

FYI OFWs: Fees That You Should Pay to Work Abroad

What Kind of Diseases Make OFWs Unfit to Work

Overseas Filipino workers or OFWs in Oman should be extra careful with their health while working abroad, as it comes with the possibility of being sick and infected with spreading diseases.

OFWs are warned to avoid eating camel meat and drinking its milk as the animal is thought to be a carrier and transmits the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus or MERS-CoV.

An article from Gulfnews.com reported of the first death in Oman because of MERS-CoV.

Though scientists are not sure of the origin of MERS-CoV, several studies have linked the virus to camel. Consumption of its meat and milk were presumed as a way to transmit the virus from the animal.

Aside from avoiding eating camel meat or drinking its milk, OFWs must always practice the following as precautions:

• good personal hygiene

• frequent hand washing

• wearing of facial mask

OFWs work abroad may bring their dreams closer to reality with the money they’ll earn, but it is a must that taking care of their health should be a priority, too.

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