Abuse is not an old headline among overseas Filipino workers. Serious cases of employer mistreatment from the story of Flor Contemplacion, going through the executed Jakatia Pawa, going through the most recent, Joanna Demafelis, the lady kept in a freezer, had marked unhealthy scars in our history and had spread fear among the OFW applicants.
The government has already imposed measures to protect OFWs abroad, including a ban on deployment to countries with poor regulations on expatriate workers. Abuse is everywhere, it can happen to anyone and anywhere, even in non-domestic jobs.
There will never be a perfect employer. Even those with impeccable values can go darker and abuse their power as their superior. Foreign employers may tend to look down on their employees, especially those countries that still value slavery in their culture or those that view foreigners as mere second-class citizens.
Harm to an abusive employer not only includes physical harm, this also includes psychological, emotional, and social harm. For overseas workers and OFW hopefuls, there is a way to detect if you are destined for an employer who has a high chance of intimidating you.
Here are 10 common indicators of an abusive employer to watch out for before they hit you in any way they know how:
1. Obvious unlawful abuse, such as unwanted touching, inappropriate comments, and other treatment that you know is prohibited by law.
2. Yells at you, whether in front of others or behind closed doors, to demean you and undermine your confidence. It always makes you feel bad, useless and incapable of what you are doing.
3. Collect your passport and visa and store them somewhere out of your knowledge or access.
4. When he is too demanding with your work results. This is usually normal, but if you think you’ve done your best but still find it insufficient, it’s possible that he’s just being abusive.
5. When he badmouths people who aren’t there or even stabs you in the back when you’re not around.
6. When it limits you from talking to family or friends even during recess. You can even pick up your personal phone and you can limit your outings. It can even prohibit you from talking to anyone, including your coworkers, or it can tell everyone to stop socializing with you.
7. When he always checks what you’re doing and checks up on you every minute. He controls your time, even your minute breaks.
8. He wants you to work on your day off and often asks you to work overtime.
9. Invade your privacy. It can listen to your private conversations or even manipulate your personal affairs.
10. Workplace stress is also a reliable indicator of how abuse affects your well-being.
If the abuse is still manageable, a finding published in the Journal of Applied Psychology showed that acts of kindness toward them might lessen the chance that they will become harsh or rude to you. Showing them a dose of compassion and empathy can decrease the risk of being hurt.
However, if your employer went beyond the limits, one should be cautious and wary of anything that might happen.
OFWs are encouraged to document incidences of abuse. Have each encounter recorded on your phone or, if it was in vain, in a notebook, with details of when and where it happens. You can back this up with a list of the names of the witnesses, if any.
Have it reported to the nearest office of the embassy or any government related affiliate. Make your family aware of your current situation and notify your respective placement agency. Keep important contact details handy in case of an emergency.
If the abuse could already qualify as a criminal offense, such as sexual harassment or discrimination, you may already seek legal help from the government to help you file the appropriate charges.
Leaving work can be the most difficult resource, considering the journey you’ve had to reach that opportunity abroad. However, abuse is something you should never tolerate. You should never risk your health and safety for a job that pays you well.