Family of Dead Filipino Maid Cries Foul
Gloria Esguerra Melencio; 13/6/08
The family of an overseas Filipino worker who worked as a domestic helper in Saudi Arabia cried foul over her alleged suicide as they met her casket at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport yesterday. Remains of OFW Eugenia Baja were repatriated through the Saudi Airlines flight number CX 903, a report to the media sent by an organization of OFWs said. The Baja siblings, together with Migrante, met her at the airport. Her body will be flown to her province in Bohol in a connecting flight this morning.
See: http://www.arabnews.com/?page=4§ion=0&article=110834&d=13&m=6&y=2008
Why We Should Not Discriminate Against Migrant Workers
Fatin Bundagji;13/6/08
On June 10 Arab News published a report, which made disturbing reading. The disturbing aspect of the report was not so much related to the chronic water shortage in the city of Jeddah, as much as it was related to the evident discrimination against foreign residents in the city. In the report titled “As Temperatures Rise, Water Lines Grow”, the author highlighted the story of an elderly Pakistani building-keeper who had waited for hours to purchase a truck load of water from the city’s main water distribution plant but was eventually rejected under the basis that only Saudis could be serviced first.
See: http://www.arabnews.com/?page=7§ion=0&article=110839&d=13&m=6&y=2008
Egypt child labour a sombre reality
Maya El Kaliouby; 13/6/08
Thirteen-year-old Essam Hussein spends his days lugging exhaust pipes in a little repair workshop in central Cairo, one of hundreds of thousands of children forced into labour to secure a future. “I hate school, I like it here,” says Essam who dreams of owning his own repair shop with his brothers one day. “I’ve been working here since last year,” he says, showing the mechanics’ garage were he has been working for about a year. In a nearby workshop, Mohammad Hassan, 15, says he works only during the summer holidays.”At least if school doesn’t work out, I’ll have a job,” says the teenager who makes around 40 Egyptian pounds ($7) per week.
See; http://www.jordantimes.com/?news=8583