Aired (March 23, 2025): Sinasampal at sinasapok ang OFW na si Rieshelyne Olit ng kanyang amo sa Saudi Arabia. Maka-ilang ulit din daw niyang binalak na kunan ng video ang ginagawang pananakit sa kanya pero kinukuha ng amo ang kanyang cellphone. Pinagbawalan din siyang makipag-usap sa kanyang pamilya sa Pilipinas. Panoorin sa video. #ReportersNotebook
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00:00In 2024, the highest number of overseas employment in the past four decades, according to the Department of Migrant Workers,
00:08this amounted to almost 2.5 million OFWs.
00:13As of this date, 28-year-old Richeline entered Saudi Arabia as a domestic helper until February 3.
00:23This is what can be heard in a recorded video recorded by her father, Zaldi.
00:30In the video, Richeline's crying can be heard.
00:41A man's voice can also be heard while Richeline continues to cry.
00:47The man's voice can also be heard while Richeline continues to cry.
00:52Richeline was begging her Arab employer to let her go back to the Philippines.
00:58How are you? How do they feel?
01:01I'm worried about everything.
01:05According to Zaldi, Richeline is a victim of employer abuse.
01:09It's hard when she's far away. You can't go to her right away to help her.
01:16It's hard when she's far away. You can't go to her right away to help her.
01:19If she goes back to the Philippines, she will be dead.
01:23Because of Zaldi's constant worries, he asked for help from OWA.
01:30With the help of OWA, Richeline was able to go back to the Philippines on February 11, 2025.
01:38Reporter's Notebook interviewed Richeline.
01:41She told us that she went to her Arab employer in June 2024.
01:46But just two months ago, she experienced the pain from her employer.
01:53I was carrying a macaroon when my employer suddenly hit me on my back.
01:58I was shocked.
02:00Richeline said that she was abused several times.
02:06Every time my employer gets angry, he hits me.
02:11He doesn't leave me alone.
02:15He only slaps me and hits me.
02:22She said that she recorded the pain in his face.
02:25But the employer took his cellphone.
02:29He will hurt me. I want to record it.
02:34But what I do is I hide my cellphone so that he won't get it.
02:43Until just a month ago, a friend of Richeline's called her while she was feeling sorry for her employer.
02:58Oh my God!
03:05That's when he slapped me.
03:07That's when I recorded it.
03:09I was on call at that time.
03:17Reporter's Notebook interviewed the recruitment agency in Malate, Manila
03:21that asked Richeline to leave.
03:23They conducted an investigation on what happened to Richeline.
03:26There was an issue that she ordered a mobile phone online
03:31addressed to the employer's house.
03:34This is a violation of the Saudi law for privacy protection of the employer.
03:42Another complaint was that she didn't do her work.
03:46The employer's biggest concern was that she didn't wear a uniform.
03:53It's not advisable because they are in a Muslim country.
03:57But the agency clarified that even if there is a lack in Richeline's condition,
04:01they do not consent to the employer's harm to her.
04:11We don't tolerate any physical abuse, even just grabbing.
04:17We don't allow it.
04:20Within three days, we solved the issue.
04:23We let her go home.
04:24We followed our responsibility as an agency in the existing contract.
04:29Because of the abuse, the contract was automatically ceased
04:34because the employer violated the contract.
04:39Even if she wanted to be punished, Richeline admitted that she was arranging things with her employer.
04:44I just wanted to let her go home.
04:47If I were to punish her, it will take longer for me to process my papers.
04:54As of now, Richeline is committed to taking care of her three children.
04:58Will you allow your children to work abroad?
05:03No ma'am, I don't think so.