The SUN HK : OFWs hit out at OWWA for offering Covid aid only to few

By Daisy CL Mandap

Unifil's Balladares (top left photo) with 7 failed Covid aid claimants during the zoom presser

Migrant domestic workers in Hong Kong have again called out the Overseas Workers Welfare Organization for continuing to ignore pleas to ease its rules on giving aid to recovered Covid-19 patients so more can benefit.

In an online press conference held on Sunday, the migrants, led by United Filipinos in Hong Kong, also questioned OWWA’s offer to give the Php10,000 fund relief to only 43 beneficiaries, and pay the money to their relatives in the Philippines, instead of directly to them in Hong Kong.

The named beneficiaries were the OFWs endorsed by the Mission for Migrant Workers directly to OWWA’s head office in Manila after their applications were rejected by OWWA HK for not complying with the strict rules imposed on those seeking the financial assistance.

Unifil chairperson Dolores Balladares said in a statement, “It should be given not only to the people on the list submitted by Mission For Migrant Workers but also to all those who applied and submitted documents, even if it’s not in compliance with all the requirements of OWWA.”

Balladares added, “OWWA should stop making it difficult for the Covid claimants to receive what is due to them.”

She also questioned OWWA’s offer to pay the cash aid to the family members in the Philippines of the selected beneficiaries when they filed the claim in Hong Kong.

Unifil’s head recalled OWWA HK itself announced the US$200 aid to all OFWs who were stricken with the coronavirus during the fifth wave of the pandemic in Hong Kong through a Facebook post on Feb 28 this year.

“Hindi natin ito hiningi, sila mismo ang nagsabing bibigyan nila ng ayuda ang mga nagka Covid sa fifth wave,” she said. (We did not ask for this, they themselves said they would give aid to those who were stricken with Covid in the fifth wave).

Faced with a deluge of applications from the thousands of OFWs who came down with the virus since, OWWA tightened the rules the following month to include a medical certificate confirming the patient’s illness, and specifying the symptoms.

Subequently, more requirements were added, including a positive PCR test result, although the Hong Kong government itself confirmed test results obtained from an antigen test; and proof of hospitalization or being sent to a government isolation facility.

Juvelyn, one of those denied Covid aid, said at the press conference that she had all the documents that would prove she was stricken with the disease, including an isolation order from the Hong Kong government – but not the medical certificate –so her application was denied.

Like all the other applicants who failed to get the aid for this reason, Juvelyn was puzzled by OWWA’s insistence on this, saying “imposible kang makakuha ng medical certificate sa fifth wave.” (It was impossible to get a medical certificate during the fifth wave).

One of the taxis allowed to transport Covid positive patients to some clinics during the 5th wave

Overwhelmed by the tens of thousands of people who were testing positive for coronavirus on a daily basis, the government at the time instructed patients to test themselves at home, and if they tested positive, to upload the test result on a platform. Once they did this, the government would confirm the result and issue an isolation order to the patient.

Later, patients, especially those with severe symptoms, were advised to go to a designated clinic to see a doctor and get medicines. But they could only do so by taking designated taxis directly to the clinics, which was another hurdle that threw most people off.

Juvelyn said she went to OWWA’s office thrice in a bid to get her application approved, but failed. Each time, the staff who spoke with her said her application could proceed only if she had a medical certificate.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

The same experience was shared by Judith, who had to isolate at home along with all members of her employer’s family per the government’s orders. That meant no one in their household was allowed to go out and had to wait until the government gave them the all-clear.

Liza, another failed claimant, had it worse because she tested positive on August 8, less than a month after she arrived in Hong Kong. She said her elderly employers shunned her and were scared of her passing on the virus to them that she had to be moved to a government facility.

As she did not have sick leave credits yet, she also could not claim any salary during her period of isolation, making her situation really dire.

“Sana hindi lang yung 43 ang bibigyan,” she said (I hope cash aid will be given not only to the 43 <who were endorsed by the Mission>)

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

Mary Rose, on the other hand, had been working in Hong Kong for 25 years when she was stricken. In all the time that she had worked abroad and was a member of OWWA, she said it was the first time that she had turned to the government for help, so it pained her to be turned down.

When she went to OWWA’s office to inquire about the cash aid, she said the woman at the counter merely said, “Mag email ka (send us an email),” before turning her back on her.

Most of the claimants were also angered by OWWA’s allegations that some applicants had tampered with their documents so they could claim the benefit when they were not qualified.

The claimants said this was demeaning and outrageous, as they could not possibly have risked being arrested and charged with falsification, which carries a penalty of $10,000 – far more than the promised aid - and imprisonment of up to five years.

PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE

Another common lament was that OWWA was withholding money that belongs to them.

Kelly, another claimant, asked: “Bakit ninyo kami pinapagpalimos sa perang galing sa amin?,” (Why are you making us beg for money that came from us?)

Jenny, whose lament also included her being allegedly treated nastily by OWWA after she complained directly to Malacanang when her application was rejected, said it was ridiculous to insist on a medical certificate when there is enough proof that the claimant had been stricken.

“At the end of the day, we were all sick; iba-iba lang ang kuwento natin,” she said.

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In her case, Jenny said she had high fever and felt weak for about two months after catching the virus. But she had no medical certificate as she was made to isolate at home.

What made matters worse in her case was when OWWA welfare officer Virsie Tamayao allegedly called to tell her off for bringing her complaint to the Office of the President when she had already been given the Php10,000 Akap fund for those whose jobs were affected by Covid.

Jenny was also mad because the OWWA head had called up the leader of an Ilocano group to ask about her, and apparently complained about her being rude during their phone conversation.

In closing, Balladares vowed to help claimants fight for what is rightfully theirs, even going all the way to Malacanang to keep up the pressure.

BASAHIN ANG DETALYE

“OWWA's failure to give cash assistance is clearly abandonment. OFWs have their rights, and as such have the right to assistance,” she said.

She also called for a full audit of OWWA’s Trust Fund, which is accumulated from member’s US$25 contribution each time they sign a new employment contract.