Filipino expat from Saudi Arabia loses case over unpaid salary

  MANILA – An Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) who has been repatriated from Saudi Arabia has lost her case against a recruitment agency over alleged unpaid wages. In her petition to the Supreme Court, Gemma Bilbao claimed she was illegally dismissed from her job and lost wages equivalent to 12,000 Saudi riyals (Dh11,754). Upholding a ruling by the Court of Appeals, the Supreme Court said that Bilbao "failed to sufficiently show grave abuse in holding that petitioner was not illegally dismissed and is therefore not entitled to her monetary claims". The court said Bilbao failed to produce substantial proof against Meccaj Manpower International Services, except for photocopies of her contract employment and passport. Bilbao left for Saudi Arabia on February 6, 2014 where she worked until her repatriation in August 2015. She claimed she was underpaid, unpaid for eight months and also maltreated. She filed a complaint against her recruitment agency in 2017. Her employer was allegedly not satisfied with her performance and her agency gave her two choices: pre-termination of her two-year contract, under which she will get a one-month salary and repatriation, or be assigned to a new employer until the completion of her two-year contract. Bilbao chose to continue her contract under a new employer, but she later requested to go home for medical treatment. ICA/Expat Media
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