We’ve all heard tragic news about OFW’s being abused by employers overseas. These reports are usually heart-breaking and terrifying particularly if you are working as an OFW yourself.
Bad things can really happen to anyone anywhere that’s why it always pays to be cautious. If you want to avoid ending up as an abuse victim, you have to read this article.
Identifying Different Types of Employer Abuse
First and foremost, you need to understand what defines an “abuse” because it comes in various forms.
Is it physical, verbal, financial, or sexual?
Physical involves unwanted harm done to your body by way of punching, kicking, pushing, strangling, pulling your hair, or even by throwing objects at you.
Verbal, on the other hand, include yelling, public embarrassment, and different types of threat.
Financial abuse can be categorized by incidents that have to do with withholding your salary for unacceptable reasons and not giving the amount previously agreed upon.
Sexual abuse, of course, are cases such as unwanted kissing or touching, rape, attempted rape,
Taking Steps to Prevent the Problem
OFWs who experience any of these should immediately contact the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), or the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA). You can ask for help from any of these offices, whether you are looking for counseling or want to file a formal complaint.
At the same time, the Office of the Vice President (OVP) assures they will lend assistance.
Seeking Help Sooner Than Later
It is advised that abused OFWs communicate with these agencies sooner than later. Preventing these problems should be done before they get worse. Failure to report early signs of abuse may lead to greater dangers.
You need to protect yourself from all the risks and make sure that your rights are not violated.