OFW in Fiji recalls how complaint filed thru app helped in his rescue

An overseas Filipino worker (OFW) recalled how a recently developed mobile app for OFWs helped authorities rescue him from an abusive employer in the Fiji Islands.

Almedo Lopez, earlier this year, was directly hired by a water bottling company in the Fiji Islands.

He was soon deployed on a one-year contract to work as a quality supervisor.

However, everything changed after he encountered several incidents of misconduct from his employer.

“Ngayon lang po ako nakaranas ng tinatawag na ‘professional harassment’ po,” Lopez said in Zoom meeting transcript provided by OFW in Fiji recalls how complaint filed thru app helped in his rescueApp.

(This is the first time I experienced "professional harassment.")

The OFW described the abusive work practice as being forced to work more than 12 hours a day.

Lopez said this was against his contract since his job was quality control, but his employer forced him to work for production for a whole day.

Abizo OFW App said Lopez responded to a survey sent out through the app, which the OFW had installed on his phone.

The Abizo OFW App is a digital monitoring system that forms part of the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency’s (POEA) OFW Global Monitoring Pilot Project.

The app aims to track the accurate number of OFWs at any given time, as well as monitor information on their deployment location, employers, and working and living conditions abroad.

Through the app, Lopez shared a detailed description of his situation in the workplace and complained of several grievances, which included but were not limited to verbal abuse, suspension without due process, forcible “voluntary” acceptance of a 20% pay cut, and 12-hour workdays.

Abizo OFW App said its response team acknowledged Lopez’s message and immediately forwarded his case to the proper channels.

After filing a report with the POEA, a meeting for the issuance of the “Notice to Repatriate” for Lopez, spearheaded by Deputy Administrator Villamor Plan of the Welfare and Employment Office of the POEA (WEO-POEA), was conducted, Abizo OFW App said.

The “Notice to Repatriate” was immediately approved and addressed to Fortune Life Insurance Company Inc. and Fortune General Insurance Corporation, through their partner insurance manager, AAB Management Service and Insurance Intermediaries Inc., where Lopez had purchased his insurance.

Although Lopez was a direct-hire and was not required to avail of the Compulsory Insurance Coverage for Agency-Hired Migrant Workers, also known as Agency-Hired OFW Compulsory Insurance, he deemed it necessary to avail of the package that was offered by Fortune Life and Fortune General after seeing its numerous benefits, affordable rate per year and access to Abizo OFW App’s features and services.

Abizo OFW App’s features and services allowed Lopez to reach out for help from concerned authorities, especially since there is no existing Philippine Consulate office at his location.

As Lopez’s case is covered by the Repatriation Benefit of the compulsory insurance based on Republic Act (RA) No. 10022, which amends RA N0. 8042, otherwise known as the “Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act (MWOFA) of 1995, as amended,” he was immediately provided a return plane ticket by Fortune General through AAB Management Service and Insurance Intermediaries Inc. on July 9, 2021, according to Abizo OFW App.

“I’m finally going home. Maraming salamat (Thank you) to the POEA, the Abizo Team, and to AAB Management Service and Insurance Intermediaries Inc., representing Fortune Life and Fortune General insurance companies,” Lopez said.

The OFW’s airfare to the Philippines from the Fiji Islands was fully covered under the "Repatriation Benefit'' of the insurance coverage he voluntarily availed of, according to Abizo OFW App. — DVM, GMA News