The seven Filipino workers in Qatar received a piece of good news at the start of 2009 as Qatar’s arbitration department sided with them in the labor dispute with their employer.

Vice President Noli de Castro, also presidential adviser on overseas Filipino workers, confirmed that the seven workers: Willy Catian, Arnold Magdua, Joselito San Jose, Ferdinand Calimag, Joselito Mañalac, Rowel Tipon and Rizal Rosales were paid their backwages for four months and one-way air ticket for their return to the Philippines.

“I received a report from our Philippine Overseas Labor Offices-Doha officer that our seven [migrant workers] have already made their post-holiday shopping. This is very good news for them and their families here, as they can start anew in 2009,” De Castro said.

De Castro earlier asked Labor Secretary Marianito Roque to facilitate the case of these workers and give them assistance and protection under Qatar’s labor rules and regulations.

The labor office reported that it advised the group to refile their case before Qatar’s arbitration department in order for them to avail of Qatar’s legal processes.

The group was said to have first opted to discontinue the arbitration proceedings when they chose to make an out-of-court settlement with their employer which eventually failed.

“Our [migrant workers] should also understand that the best way to go when they are facing labor disputes is to seek assistance from our Philippine embassies and labor offices, that they will be appraised of their legal options and the correct procedure,” De Castro said.

Meanwhile, the Vice President checked on two other incidents concerning Filipinos abroad: the Bangkok disco fire and the Gaza situation.

De Castro received confirmation from Philippine Ambassador to Bangkok Antonio Rodriguez, that so far no Filipino was reported hurt in Bangkok’s disco raze which reportedly claimed 61 lives.

According to Rodriguez, out of 61 bodies, 28 have been identified, 27 are Thais and one foreigner.

On the Gaza situation, De Castro received a report from Philippine Ambassador to Tel Aviv Petronila Garcia that the 21 Filipino families or roughly 120 Filipinos living in Gaza, although terrified of the violence occurring in the area, are generally in good condition and are safe.

“But of course, the plan to extract them from the danger zone is already in the works. The Israeli government already allowed evacuation of the Filipinos caught in the crossfire and will be transferred to Jordan,” De Castro pointed out.

Garcia informed the Vice President that the Philippine Embassy in Jordan is helping them arrange the extraction to be done possibly either on Sunday or early next week.