Employment agency holding my documents, papers

J J
is in the Philippines

Problema ko ay ung agency ko. Nag start ako mag apply August tapos pinapirma ako ng job order tapos nag medical ako September. Pangako sakin October aalis nako. Tapos nun November nagsbi ako na magwithdraw ng documents. Maghintay daw ako gang Nov. 29 Tinawagan ko sabi ay wala pa daw visa. Nagalit sila at sinabi bumalik ako kahapon Tuesday. Pagpunta ko dun hinanap ko si mam mel. Ang sabi wala daw umalis. Pero sinabi saken ng receptionist na nasa taas lang daw. Sinabi sa kin nun babae sa taas hindi daw maibibigay ang documents ko kasi hindi daw nila alam kung nasaan. Tapos maya maya sinabi naman nun isa na nasa embassy daw papel ko. Tinawagan daw ulit ako s friday. Saken kasi November ko pa winiwithdraw bakit ayaw pa nila ibigay ang dami nila sinasabi sakin. Parang hinohold nila mga documents ko. Tapos ang sabi nila bayaran ko daw ung pag upload ng medical ko. Sabi ko ako naman ang nagbayad ng medical ko at ang pagkaka alam ko wala ako dapat bayaran kasi wala pako napipirmahang kontrata at wala pa akong visa




Question: I applied for a job abroad with an employment agency last August 2014. Then, I was asked to sign the job order, then I had a medical exam last September. They promised me that I would be deployed for work abroad by October. Last November, I told them that I would like to withdraw my documents, and they told me that I had to wait until November 29. I called and they said that still waiting for the visa. They got angry and told me to come back yesterday, Tuesday. When I went there, I looked for Ma'am Mel. They said that she was not around, but the receptionist told me that she was upstairs. And receptionist also told me that Mel could not give me my documents because they don't know where it is. Later on, they told me that my papers were with the Embassy. I've requested to withdraw my documents, but why haven't they given it back to me until now? They also told me that I should pay for uploading of my medical exam. I said that I did pay for my medical exam expenses, and I shouldn't actually be paying anything because I haven't signed any contract, and I don't even have a visa yet.




 

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Adelaimar C Arias-Jose
is a Legal expert in the Philippines
Yes, you are well within your rights to demand that your documents be returned to you. Since ikaw din ang nagbayad ng iyong medical, at sinabi mo nga na wala naman kayong contract, ikaw ay hindi dapat pagbayarin.

Ang maaari mong gawin ay mag-file ng complaint sa POEA. Iyon na nga lang, mahina naman ang POEA, walang ngipin sila upang i-coerce ang agency mo na ibalik sa iyo ang iyong mga papeles.

Puedeng mag-demanda ka ng illegal recruitment. At least, kung ang kanilang business ay threatened na maipasara, baka kumilos sila. Kaso, ang mangyayari niyan, kakasangkapanin mo lamang ang justice system para makuha ang mga papeles mo. Kung hindi sila matakot at ma-dismiss ang complaint mo, nasayang na ang panahon mo, napahiya ka pa, e, ikaw na nga ang agrabyado.

Puede ka rin namang manawagan sa media. May mga matatapang na mga media personalities na kayang mang-harass ng mga agency na nanggigipit sa mga OFW na tulad mo.

Kasi, kung hindi ka kayang i-deploy ng agency mo, you have a right na bawiiin ang passport mo at makipagsapalaran sa ibang agency. Good luck sa iyo. Ang pinaka-magandang gawin mo ay humanap ng abogado upang ikaw ay mapagpayuhan ng specific matapos na makita ang mga documento mo.

About the author

Adelaimar C Arias-Jose

I am a graduate of the UP College of Law. Member of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines since 1995. I am currently involved in private practice in criminal, civil and labor law.
Profession: Lawyer
Adelaimar C. Arias-Jose
Office Address: #34 St. Michael Street
Philippines , Manila , Makati
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