Cheyenne Suarez

Demonstrators at The Hague, the Netherlands, on Friday pleaded for support from the Philippine government and demanded justice for the situation of the 11 Filipinos, who were allegedly abused by their Dutch employer.

Article (news)

Migrant groups push for justice for 11 Filipinos allegedly exploited by Dutch employer

<p>THE HAGUE, The Netherlands — Demonstrators at The Hague, the Netherlands, on Friday called for Philippine government support as they demanded justice for 11 Filipino workers allegedly abused by their Dutch employer.</p><p>The rally was just the latest support from Filipinos abroad who have been helping the 11 workers since reports of their alleged exploitation came to light.</p><p>Mary Grace Labasan — who is with Gabriela Netherlands, Migrante Europe and the International Migrants Alliance — said they found out about the plight of the workers when one of them called her for help. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/31/filipino-workers-allegedly-abused-at-amsterdam-gym-chain-2209"><strong>READ: Filipino workers allegedly abused at Amsterdam gym chain<br/></strong></a></div><p>She said the network mobilized to find lawyers and to link them with other human and civil rights groups for support and shelter as well as to give them vouchers for essentials and groceries.</p><p>Labasan said the group also conducted its own investigation into the workers&#x27; &quot;migration route, how did they learn about the job posting, when did they arrive in The Netherlands, their salary per hour, job contracts, their working conditions and how they were treated.&quot;  </p><p>As of now, the workers are “scattered among their own friends and acquaintances, and most of them sleep on the couch or cushion mat in the living room,” she added.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;NO BREAKS, NOT EVEN TO GO TO THE TOILET&#x27;</strong></div><p>Lilian (not her real name), one of the former workers of Saints &amp; Stars fitness gym in Amsterdam, said they had been promised work visas and decent-paying jobs as cleaners but got unfair treatment instead.</p><p>In their complaint filed at the Dutch Labor Inspectorate in July, the workers accused their employer of withheld and delayed salaries, confiscation of passports and up to seven straight days of 12- to 17- hour shifts with no breaks.</p><p>“Hindi kami puwedeng maupo, hindi puwedeng mag-toilet, hindi kami puwedeng magpahinga… Hindi namin puwedeng bagalan ang lakad namin dahil iyun ang aming magiging mitsa sa pagkakatanggal namin sa trabaho at itatapon kami sa labas na parang aso. Hindi lang po ako nakaranas noon. Marami po kami.&quot;</p><p>(We cannot sit nor go to the toilet. We cannot take a short break… We cannot even walk at a slow pace because that could mean getting terminated and taken outside like a dog. I’m not the only one that experienced it. There are many of us.) </p><p>She said they were given quarters, where four to five people shared a room and that was supposed to be a temporary arrangement.</p><p>“Pero habang tumatagal dumadami lang kami ng dumadami sa isang lugar.&quot;</p><p>(They promised it was temporary, but as days passed, they put more people in the room.)</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/5/22/distressed-migrant-workers-may-use-ofw-app-to-seek-help-dmw-1405"><strong>READ: Distressed migrant workers may use OFW app to seek help – DMW</strong></a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>PASSPORTS CONFISCATED</strong></div><p>She said their employer took the workers&#x27; passports, supposedly to process documents like work permits, insurance and health cards that never came.<strong></strong><br/></p><p>“At dahil wala kaming pasaporte, andoon ang aming kaba at takot na matanong kami ng isang opisyal o ng pulis dahil hindi kami legal sa bansang Netherlands. Ganun pa man, napagkaisahan pa rin namin na ilaban ang aming karapatan kung saan iyung mga pangakong hindi naibigay ay aming inilalaban.”</p><p>(And because we didn’t have our passports, we were always afraid to be questioned by authorities or police because we were illegally staying in the Netherlands. Nevertheless, we decided to fight for our rights together to claim the unfulfilled promises.)</p><p>One of the workers said Saints &amp; Stars offered each of them a 5,000-Euro bribe to keep quiet about conditions at the gym.</p><p>Mark Pascual, campaign officer of Migrante Netherlands, called the alleged bribes &quot;both an insult and at the same time an admission of guilt&quot; by gym owner Tom Moos. </p><p>He said gym management had hoped the workers would settle for a handout instead of what they were promised and are owed.</p><p>&quot;Pwes, nagkakamali sila.&quot;</p><p>(Well, they are mistaken.)</p><p>According to Pascual, Moos has declined to comment further after releasing a video message following the allegations.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>THE WORKERS&#x27; DEMANDS</strong></div><p>Migrante Netherlands said the 11 workers “are now collectively asserting their rights” and are calling for what is owed them as well as to prevent future exploitation of other migrant workers.</p><p>They said Saints &amp; Stars Gym must give fair and full compensation — including for unpaid hours and overtime — and damages for the exploitation.</p><p>The gym should also recognize their employment status and help them regularize their stay in the Netherlands as promised during recruitment.</p><p>&quot;We expect that the former workers of Saints &amp; Stars receive a just compensation for the unfair wages they received… They were promised work visas, but it has never been processed while they were working in the gym, the owners should be held accountable for the inhumane treatment of the workers which were all happening right under their noses,&quot; Labasan said.</p><p>The workers also called on the Dutch government to investigate and prosecute the gym for exploitation and potentially for illegal recruitment.</p><p>They also called on temporary residence permits while the case is ongoing and while they are seeking to regularize their stay.</p><p>They also urged tighter monitoring of informal recruitment platforms and labor brokers to prevent future exploitation.</p><div><a href="http://Overseas Filipinos picket in New York in support of detained migrants"><strong>READ: Overseas Filipinos picket in New York in support of detained migrants</strong></a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>PH GOVERNMENT SUPPORT</strong></div><p>Migrante Netherlands also called on the Philippine government to provide legal funds, shelter and financial aid to support the affected workers and their families in the Philippines.</p><p><strong></strong>The Philippine government should also conduct an independent investigation of the abuse and blacklist Saints &amp; Stars Gym as a potential employer of Overseas Filipino Workers, they said.</p><p>“We also call on the Philippine government to show sincerity in serving the interests of the toiling Filipino workers in the Philippines and abroad. It is the government’s responsibility to create jobs for its people to have a decent and liveable wage to live a dignified life,&quot; Labasan said.</p><p>Migrante Netherlands said that, in the meantime, the public can help the 11 workers by amplifying their calls and through financial, legal and housing support.</p><p>Labasan said that the case highlights the need to stop the labor exploitation of third-county nationals like the 11 gym workers.</p><p>“They are human beings and not commodities. Our organization will continue to support them by any means possible until justice is served.”</p><p>Meanwhile, following a closed-door discussion with the Filipino workers prior to the protest, the Philippine Embassy at The Hague issued a statement assuring a “steadfast support and assistance to the Filipino cleaners.”  </p><p>It expressed its commitment to protecting and ensuring the welfare and the rights of Filipinos in the Netherlands “regardless of status.” </p><p>It added that it “will continue to liaise and work with the Netherlands Labour Authority and other Dutch authorities, monitor the progress of the investigation and filed cases, ensure that the complaints are fully addressed, and accountabilities responded to.”</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/F8MFF4MnKmk?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Demonstrators at The Hague, the Netherlands, on Friday pleaded for support from the Philippine government and demanded justice for the situation of the 11 Filipinos, who were allegedly abused by their Dutch employer.</p>

Migrant groups push for justice for 11 Filipinos allegedly exploited by Dutch employer

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Migrant groups push for justice for 11 Filipinos allegedly exploited by Dutch employer

Angelica Cabahug

Published August 09, 2025 09:25 AM PHT

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Updated August 10, 2025 06:48 PM PHT

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migrants

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Filipinos

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