The Philippine government should provide our medical professionals—particularly our nurses working in Middle Eastern countries like the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Libya, Lebanon, Tunisia, Syria, Egypt and Yemen—with ample protection, as tensions are high in these areas. Most likely, they are facing real danger and they may be putting their lives at risk. Not only that, it’s also highly possible that they are not being treated well by their employers and/or may be toiling hard under unfair labor conditions. Our Department of Foreign Affairs should always be ready with contingency plans for any possible eventuality in Middle Eastern countries, where the bulk of our medical professionals are based.
If possible, our embassy staff should be tasked to constantly monitor the wellbeing of our medical professionals and contract workers in the Middle East and throughout the world. Our ambassadors should listen to their complaints, attend to their problems as quickly as possible, and extend the necessary assistance as may be possible under the law.
From information we have gathered, there are so many Filipino workers, especially those working in remote areas, who are not receiving their salaries on time, to the detriment of their families in the Philippines.
Overseas Filipino workers everywhere in the world are hardworking, dedicated, sincere and loyal to their employers. More importantly, they help boost the Philippine economy with their remittances to their families in the Philippines. They are not our modern-day heroes for nothing. Therefore they deserve to be provided with utmost care and assistance, and to be looked after in their times of need.
—ABDULMAJID S. ALAWI,
Kahapan Street,
Bongao, Tawi-Tawi