Filipina flees, Bahraini woman blames Embassy

Manama

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A Bahraini woman claimed that the Embassy of the Philippines in Manama assisted a runaway employee in exiting the country. 

The widowed mother of three, who wished to be named as Um Hamad, told DT News yesterday that she was “shocked to know that the Embassy issued a new passport to her escaped domestic worker, despite informing them about the issue months before.”

“The lady worked with us for around 11 years. After a dispute between us last September, she packed-up her clothes and fled the house,” Um Hamad said.

According to the woman, she filed an escape complaint against the worker at Hidd police station in Muharraq Governorate the next day and then notified the Embassy about the incident.

“I cancelled her residency permit and went to the Labour Market Regulatory Authority asking for help. I was told there that in order to file a complaint against the employee, her residency permit must be valid. Since then, I am confused on how to solve this issue, as I can’t apply for another permit unless I have proof that the previous worker had exited the country,” Um Hamad explained, adding, “I’m a widow and I need a helper around the house.”

The woman said that she communicated with the runaway maid a couple of times last year through a friend of the maid. She apparently informed the maid’s friend that all she wanted form the escaped maid was to exit the country.

“She has no identity proof. Her only identity card and valid passport are in my possession. I asked the friend to convince her to leave the country, nothing more,” she informed.

Um Hamad also said that she was contacted by a Bahraini lady, who asked her to transfer the maid’s working permit, but she withdrew her request after knowing that she is an escaped employee.

The woman added, “I was shocked when I was informed by a Filipino friend a few days ago that she saw the escaped maid receiving a new passport at the Embassy. How could they do this? Her passport validity ends in 2019. What if it was a criminal that is trying to escape the country? I wish the authorities took up this case, investigate it and hold the people involved accountable.”

According to the Embassy’s official website, the requirements for replacing a lost passport include personal appearance, a duly accomplished application form, three copies of an affidavit explaining the circumstances surrounding the loss of the passport, three copies of a police report, a request from the employer for replacement of lost passport and BD62 fees.

The Embassy’s reply is awaited in this incident.