Over 700 OFWs jobless in New Zealand after company suddenly closes

More than 700 overseas Filipino workers in Christchurch, New Zealand found themselves suddenly jobless over the Christmas holidays when the company when they were working for shuttered.

According to a 24 Oras report by Raffy Tima on Thursday, the OFWs found themselves adrift when ELE, described by the New Zealand government as a "skilled labor hire agency in the construction and manufacturing sector," shut down unannounced just four days before Christmas.

While ELE initially promised to pay their remaining salary, there was no news of when this would happen. Most of the OFWs had not even been in the country for more than a year.

“Wala pong abiso. Papasok na po kami noong umaga, tsaka na po nagsabi sa amin na, huwag kayong pumasok, may Zoom meeting po tayo. Sabi nila, ganun lang po. Ang sinabi na ngayong araw na ito, na magsasara na yung ELE,” said carpenter Gabby Martin.

With their visas reportedly valid for three years, the OFWs weren’t allowed to switch jobs and have been living without any income for the last two weeks.

“Naghihintay kami ng variation ng visa namin kung kailan lalabas yung bagong visa namin. Kaya lang habang naghihintay, eto, ganito, tambay,” said OFW Felix Castro.

The OFWs are currently living off of fishing and have also been receiving food donations, and are currently living in homes provided by another Filipino.

“Yung nagpapa-upa rito, yung Pilipino rin [na] naawa sa amin. Sinabihan kami na sige, diyan muna kayo hanggat wala. Tapos halimbawa magkatrabaho kayo, sabihin niyo na lang sa akin tsaka natin pag-usapan kung maghuhulog na kayo,” Castro added.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Embassy in New Zealand has started to distribute USD$600 or up to P30,000 to the stranded OFWs since last week as assistance. — Jiselle Anne C. Casucian/BM, GMA Integrated News