Alastair McIndoe for The Straits Time looks at a text messaging helpline for distressed Filipino workers overseas.

When the Saudi employer of a Filipina domestic helper refused to let her return home after her contract was finished, friends sent a single text message that simultaneously alerted authorities in the Philippines and agencies helping migrant workers in distress in the desert kingdom.

It was received by a mobile phone linked to a computer server in the Manila appartment of IT expert Bobby Soriano. The server, bought from a junk shop, immediately routed the text message to the groups that may be able to help her.

"When the SMS (short message service) is sent the system sends back an automatic reply that it has been received and that somebody will call them," said Mr Soriano, who helped developed the system for the Centre for Migrant Advocacy, a local NGO.

Between six and 10 SOS SMS' a day are received a day, said Mr Soriano. Over half are from Saudi Arabia, where 1.4 million Filipinos work, mostly on short-term contracts.

The beauty of SOS SMS' is that they are directly routed to the Philippine government's welfare agency for overseas workers and the Department of Foreign Affairs.