The Philippine Online Chronicles

Unlike before, migrant workers group Migrante said overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Saudi Arabia are now more “socially conscious” by abiding by and respecting Ramadan rules.

With Ramadan ending this week, there has been no report of OFWs being arrested for breaking Ramadan prohibitions such as smoking and acts of violence.

Migrante coordinator John Monterona said, “It’s a good sign that our fellow OFWs are becoming socially conscious on the prohibitions by the host governments.”

He added that the “Violation of Ramadan rules is considered a petty crime, with a corresponding penalty of imprisonment of six months to one year and a number of lashes.”

Earlier this month, Migrante cautioned OFWs to abide by their host countries’ Ramadan rules.

“This is just to caution our fellow OFWs. Though, non-Muslims are not obliged to fast, for instance, we advice our fellow OFWs to observe the religious and cultural prohibitions by the host governments in regards to the observance of the Holy Month of Ramadan," Monterona said in an online post. Other things to avoid are smoking, lust (or having sex), violence, greed, envy, angry, sarcastic retorts, gossiping, noise, “obscene and irreligious sights and sounds.”

According to the group, 35 OFWs were nabbed last year because of violating Ramadan rules. Meanwhile, in 2009, 20 Filipinos were arrested.

Overworked maids

On the other hand, Migrante said they have been receiving complaints from domestic workers because of the difficulty of their work. During Ramadan, they are required to do household work and other chores starting early morning until late at night. Some Riyadh-based OFW had complained that her hands had become swollen because of the long exposure to water and dishwashing soap.

“She already asked her employer to give her rest but the latter insisted she continue with her chores,” Monterona said. He said Migrante is continually asking labor officials to urge employers to be “social conscious of the human rights of domestic workers.”

In the spirit of Ramadan

Like Christmas, it has been a tradition in Saudi to pardon prisoners during Ramadan. Migrante said earlier that there are 15 provincial pardon committees to review cases of inmates who have committed petty crimes.

“As per our estimates, there are about 400 to 600 OFWs languishing in Saudi jails for petty crime offenses who may qualify for the royal pardon recently announced by the host government,” Monterona said.

“We are calling on the various Philippine diplomatic posts in the Middle East to arrange and seek for clemency of OFW inmates, especially those who have spent longer terms in jail, on the occasion of the holy month of Ramadan wherein host governments are considerate to the plight of OFWs in prison,” he said.

Meanwhile, distressed OFWs were repatriated from Bahrain yesterday after staying in a halfway house.

Philippine envoy to Bahrain Ambassador Ma. Corazon Yap-Bahjin said, “In the spirit of Ramadan, we took advantage of the employers’ spirit of charity and nahingi namin na huwag na sila maningil ng deployment cost para makakuha na ng travel clearance.”

She said they were lucky that the employers obliged.