Thursday, November 25, 2021

PHLIPPINES
Two minors among 'overworked, underpaid' workers rescued from Navotas warehouse

Allegedly maltreated and underpaid workers, including two minors, have been rescued from a warehouse in Navotas City.

Navotas warehouse

According to Marisol Abdurahman's report on "24 Oras", the authorities acted on the complaint of workers who escaped and conducted a raid on the warehouse of used clothes.

The victims told the authorities that they worked 12 to 14 hours a day and that they were also underpaid.

“Hindi na po namin kaya. Overworked talaga, halos 12 hours to 14 hours everyday. P300 lang po sa kanila,” Gino Narvaez, victim, said in Marisol Abdurahman’s “24 Oras” report on Thursday.

(We are so overworked, almost 12 hours to 14 hours everyday. Only a P300 salary was given for them.)

They also said that they were also detained inside the warehouse.

“Naka-padlock. Sobrang hirap. Bigat. Tapos sobra sa oras. Simula umaga hanggang gabi,” another victim Ruel Antong said.

(We were padlocked. It was very difficult. We were overworked from morning until night.)

The law enforcers arrested their employers who are three Chinese nationals.

“Hindi tama yung pagbigay ng sahod yung overtime pay wala po at may ginagawang maltreatment din po sa kanila. Kaya po inevaluate po natin yung kaso,” Police Colonel Randy Glenn Silvio, regional chief of CIDG-NCR, said.

(There is no overtime pay and they are also being maltreated. So we evaluate the case.)

Meanwhile, one of the employers denied the allegations against them, including the hiring of minors.

The employers will face charges for violation of Republic Act 9208 or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003.

Personnel of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group – National Capital Region (CIDG-NCR), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) conducted the joint operation and raided the warehouse of secondhand clothes in Navotas City. -Richa Alyssa Noriega/NB, GMA News

This article Two minors among 'overworked, underpaid' workers rescued from Navotas warehouse was originally published in GMA News Online.

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