Retire Rich

I have been working in Human Resources field for the past four years in Kuwait. I'm employed to one of the leading Oil and Gas Construction Companies in Kuwait. This company has more than 10,000 employees.

Basically, my job is more on the end process of hiring (joiners) and processing the required documents for leavers -- resigned, terminated and dismissed employees.

In the process of doing my job, I met a lot of questions more from the leavers than the joiners (applicants).
The most frequently asked questions were about "notice period" and "end of service benefits" (EOS). Belew are some of the questions:

1. How many months (notice period) required to work, after submitting resignation?
2. Do I need to finish the required three-month notice period?
3. If I will not work for the required notice period, is there a penalty?
4. How much pay I will get if I worked for three years? Five years? Or more than 10 years?

Apart from the above questions, a lot were also being asked, wherein answers were covered under the Kuwait Labor Law of the Private Sector No. 6 of 2010. I assumed that few might not able to read the Kuwait Labor Law that is why these common questions were asked.

Instead of giving answers to those frequently asked questions, I provided a link to the existing Kuwait Labor Law. Please click the link, and it will lead you to the document: http://www.arabtimesonline.com/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=dv%2FnyhXr3Kk%3D&tabid=57. This is a downloadable format wherein you can save on your computer. You may need legal advice in interpreting the law. But in general, the answers to those questions above where clearly stated.

(Recommended further reading: In order to clearly understand the Kuwait Labor Law in the private sector, I recommend to all the readers of this post, to visit the article of Fajer Ahmed posted on 248am.com. The article has an easy-to-understand table that outline the most important and frequently ask articles in the Kuwait Labor Law.)

In a post dated July 30, 2014 on Official Gazette, Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz said that the Service and Recruitment contracts for Public Recruitment and Placement Agencies (PRPA) under the Kasambahay Law (Republic Act. No. 10361) has been translated and available into 12 local languages.

In the past few days, I've been receiving a lot of emails asking questions; if article 20 visas of domestic workers can transfer to work permit in the private sector. I received an email from one of our Kabayan, who is a nurse in the Philippines but was hired under article visa 20. She's technically considered as a domestic helper -- not a nurse.

"Filipinos based in Malaysia are urged to complete their immigration documentation and always carry proper identification, such as passports, following the Malaysia government's announcement of a crackdown on undocumented foreign nationals beginning January 21."

Photo via Official Gazette

Philippine Green (Machine Readable-Ready) and Maroon (Machine Ready) Passport are no longer be allowed to apply for validity extension after October 31, 2014, according to a post published in the Official Gazette -- the official journal of the Philippine Government as per the regulations of DFA.

"Per the regulations of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), all non-machine readable passports may no longer be extended beyond October 31, 2015 and must be completely phased out by November 24, 2015."

"All Filipino nationals holding machine readable-ready passports (MRRP; green passports) and machine readable passports (MRP; maroon passports) will no longer be allowed to apply for an extension of the validity of these passports after October 31, 2014."

"They must instead apply for a new e-Passport as soon as possible before the expiry of their current MRRP (green) or MRP (maroon) passports. Those who fail to do so will likely encounter difficulty at immigration checks when traveling through ports of entry around the world after October 2015. Passport holders are also reminded that there are strict rules for applying for an extension of the validity of expiring or expired passports.

• A death in the family requiring the OFW and members of his/her dependent family to urgently travel to the Philippines;
• Medical emergencies requiring the OFW and members of his/her dependent family to urgently travel to the Philippines or another country for medical treatment;
• OFWs returning to their employers abroad with valid employment contracts processed by the POEA; and
• Those going home on final exit visas (for Filipinos in the Middle East).

"In these instances, proof of urgency, such as a copy of the death certificate, medical certificate, valid employment contracts processed by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) or any of the Philippine Overseas Labor Offices (POLO), along with plane tickets with confirmed flight details should be presented, "DFA said.

No extension for green, maroon passports after October 2014

MANILA – Many Filipinos are still confused about the Department of Foreign Affairs' (DFA) recent announcement on passport renewal as the Philippines complies with the standards set by International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

For sure, green (machine-readable-ready only) and maroon (machine-ready only) passports holders will no longer be allowed to apply for extension beyond October 31, 2014.

"Ang hindi na po tatanggapin ng International Civil Aviation Organization ay itong green passport or machine readable-ready passport. Ang minimum standard po ay yung machine-readable, yung maroon," said Assistant Secretary Wilfredo Santos of the DFA's Consular Affairs.

He said there are only a few green passports still being used.

Santos clarified that maroon (MRP) passports, which the DFA began issuing in 2007, are still valid until the end of its validity period.

"We stopped producing them in 2010 when we implemented the e-passport. But there are still Filipinos who have this passport. Kung hanggang kalian po matapos yan, valid pa po yun," he said.

He, however, advised those whose passports are about to expire in 6 months to apply for an e-passport. This will prevent them from encountering difficulty at immigration checks when traveling through any ports of entry around the world after October 2014.

The DFA, however, can give extend expiring or expired passports under the following instances:

• death in the family requiring the OFW and members of his/her dependent family to urgently travel to the Philippines;

• medical emergencies requiring the OFW and members of his/her dependent family to urgently travel to the Philippines or another country for medical treatment;

• OFWs returning to their employers abroad with valid employment contracts processed by the POEA; and

• those going home on final exit visas (for Filipinos in the Middle East).

"In case of emergency travel, pwede namang i-extend yan at pumunta sa Consular Affairs. Kung urgent travel, we will make the necessary action to renew the passport and allow the traveler to continue with his flight," Santos said.

If your passport was issued starting 2010, it is most likely an e-passport as the DFA began issuing it that year. To distinguish the security enhanced e-passports from other DFA issued travel documents, the former has a square logo of ICAO on the front cover. It is also color maroon but in darker shade than the MRP.

"May chip yan sa likod ng cover ng e-passport na yan na nagko-contain ng biometric," said Santos.

Other than the DFA office in ASEANA Business Park in Paranaque City, the public may now avail passport services in Metro Manila through its satellite offices in Megamall, Robinsons Galleria, SM Manila and at the Alabang Towncenter.

"Ang plano pa po namin ay magbukas sa Cubao sa Ali Mall and hopefully, within the year, sa Novaliches. Ang programa po namin dito ay para mapalapit serbisyo sa mamayan," he said.

Related articles

• About Philippine e-Passport (combinebasic.blogspot.com)
• Holders of handwritten passports asked to apply for machine readable ones (dnaindia.com)
• Electronic passports to be issued for Iraqis in 2015 (iraqinews.com)
• Machine Readable Passport (MRP) - Mandatory (consumerresources.in)
• How to Plan for Travel: Prepping Your Travel Documents (livingordersa.com)

Devina DeDiva and screenshots from her FB racist comments: Scoopboy

We are now living in a world of equal opportunities. It is up to you, how you will make it happen to your life. Slavery, discrimination and racism has long been forgotten since the downfall of Roman Empire down to the last black slave. A racist, discriminating comment is considered idiotic. Only uneducated person can dare crack a racist comment to anyone.

This is the case of Devina Sharma or Devina DeDiva. Sharma posts racist and derogatory comment on her Facebook directed to Megan Young, a Filipino who recently won the "Miss World" title, saying that:

“Miss Philippines is Miss World? What a joke! I did not know those maids have anything else in them Ha Ha Ha.”

What the fuck? What joke is she talking about?

Every woman has equal opportunity to get the title.  Whether she is a Filipino, American, Singaporean or Indian, that is why the pageant is called "Miss World".

As long as you live in this world, even you--"Devina Sharma"-- you can participate. But in my opinion, based on your arrogant comment, you don't belong to this world. You are an alien, therefore, you can not participate.

Sorry for that statement.

Well, everyone is entitled to their own opinion. And I believed Ms. Sharma is invoking her right to freedom of speech. Sharma answered to her Facebook friends that did not agree to her comments by saying,

Those of you who wrote negatively to my comment, I got one question — who are you to stop my words when the world is democratic in freedom of speech?

Ms. Sharma, let me remind you that every freedom you enjoy is affiliated with responsibility. Freedom should not be abused.

This is the time for Megan Young (who happens to be a Filipino) to shine. Let her shine. And before you throw those racist comments, you should have studied yourself. I think you forget who you are. Well, let me remind you.

Ms. Sharma, you are an Indian by blood and was lucky enough to be born in Singapore to become a Singaporean citizen. Filipino and Indian maids work hand-in-hand in cleaning toilets to a Kuwaiti employer here in Kuwait.

Read your own comment here:

They r poor, smelly from cleaning toilets & uneducated... They r less priveleged everywhere! M surprised one can win. What a joke those people cleaning toilets won miss world

Shame on you Ms. Sharma. You are not just bringing shame to your Indian roots but also to your host country Singapore.

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Devina DeDiva identity was identified and screenshots from her actual Facebook posts can be viewed here.

(Full disclosure: Retech Son is a Filipino writer and an OFW who used to clean toilets too.)

Related articles

• Beauty, Race, and Politics on the Pageant Circuit (thediplomat.com)


• The 1st Filipina crown as Miss World 2013 (cuterizjoy.wordpress.com)


• DEVINA DEVIVA,PUBLIC APOLOGY? - Miss World 2013 Racis (mariarevilla.wordpress.com)


• Oh the irony; Social Media could get you fired from your job. (ourmediacizedworld.wordpress.com)


• Two Miss Worlds in Hong Kong (normannorman.com)

Mc Donalds opened its new branch in Old Souq Salmiya. This branch is already open for more or less than two months now, I'm not that sure when exactly. But for sure it is open now--I've been there. And took the attached pictures, two weeks ago, but I'm just too lazy to write a post.

When it comes to picking the right spot for a branch; there's no business that does it best: Mc Donalds.  The newly opened branch was strategically positioned in Old Souq entrance--when you are coming from 4th Ring Road--opposite Burgan Bank. Old Souq branch is accessible from all directions; easy access to those that resides around Old Souq, Maidan Hawally and Bin Shuba Street.

It was a fine morning, when I first visited this branch, the sun shines brightly. But the wind is not that hot enough to compare it to air coming from a hair blower. The weather was too good for my Friday morning run. After my run I went straight up there with Mc Donald's freebies at hand.

When I came in, I was greeted with the usual smiles of Filipino crews. They were friendly and asked for my order. I handed my coupon to one of the crew. She looks at the coupon and smiled. "Do you want any additional order sir?" she asked. "Add brewed coffee please", I replied. She then quickly prepared my order and placed on the tray. "Thank you!" my short reply and I took my order.

There were few costumers around. Most of the diners were staffs of those shops and businesses around Old Souq. Their uniforms revealed where they were working. There is a stairway leading to another dining area to higher floor. I decided to take my food upstairs. It is a good spot to look down and feel the ambiance.

Unlike bigger Mc Donald's branches, Old Souq branch don't have play-area for the kids. So, it is a quiet place.

I took my food and I have nothing to say--its Mc Donald's by the way. Foods were prepared in the same standard. What would make the difference is the people that ran the branch and the people that dine.

It was a good experience.

Philippine Embassy in Kuwait announcement on March 10, 2013 pertaining to the issuance of OEC's (picture above) which is self-explanatory.

This is anticipation obviously for the growing number of vacationing OFW's. If you plan to secure your OEC in the Philippine Embassy prior to your vacation, I advise you to come early to make sure you will be included in a cut off amount of only 150 OEC's per day.

Attention once again to all Filipino citizens that still hold Philippine green passports to renew . It is earlier announced by Philippine Vice Consul Sheila Monedero that Philippine Embassy will no longer renew and extend green passports on October 01, 2012.

I remind green passport holders that you only have until Sunday, that is September 30, 2012 to renew.

So, to those who did not renew earlier, come and visit the Philippine Embassy new location in Faiha and renew on Sunday or never.

Do not waste your chance to renew and avoid any corresponding penalty.