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Racing to Settle Down
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| Reynaldo 'Jim' Cariño |
Reynaldo 'Jim' Cariño was 23 when he arrived
in Riyadh in 1996 to work as an aircon technician
for the workshop of Mansour al Sharida, lately
known as Al Houssain Co.
During his first three months with the company,
he noticed something was amiss.
His iqama or foreign worker identification card
is still not being issued to him when normally
it is being given during the first month.
He reported his case to the Philippine Overseas
Labor Office (POLO) but his case officer told
him to be patient, anyway, he was getting paid
on time.
For six years, he was not allowed to go vacation
because apparently, the employer knows, he might
not go back.
Last May, 2003, finally deciding to settle down,
he applied for a vacation but the employer promptly
refused.
Enraged, he applied for exit, but when his request
was again turned down, he decided to file a case
at the Saudi Labor Court, where he won his case.
The employer repeatedly made an appeal to the
Saudi Courts but Cariño won it all.
Eager to go back to the Philippines, Carino sought
succor from the POLO but his case officer told
him in Filipino: "You should go back to your
employer..."
The disposition of the case officer emboldened
his employer and refused to sign the final settlement,
dragging the case further.
"Imagine, I won the case in the Saudi Courts,
already an exemplary feat given the justice system
around here," Cariño explains.
"But it was our compatriots who junked me."
Fearing he would not be able to arrive in Manila
in time for his scheduled wedding last December
24 because of the slow-pace of his case officer,
he opted to join the hunger strike.
Now his fears have gotten worse.
"The New Year has caught us and valentines
Day is just around the corner, and I am still
stuck here," Cariño complains his face as
grim as ever.
His wedding has been reset for the nth time this
January.
"We have been very, very patient with them
(the POLO case officers) but nothing happens,"
Cariño explains further in Filipino. "Saan
naman kami susuling? (Where shall we turn
to?)"
Urgently Needed Home  Racing
to Settle Down Hard times No shelter Resigned Like dirt Worn Thin Against a Giant
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