Help illegal OFWs avail of Saudi pardon, group urges

After Saudi authorities announced a blanket royal pardon for all violators of the Kingdom’s residency laws, a Filipino migrant advocacy group there urged the Philippine government to assist undocumented overseas Filipino workers to avail of the amnesty.

In a statement, Migrante-Middle East said there are thousands of undocumented Filipinos in the Kingdom who can benefit from the pardon.

“We are urging the concerned RP posts to immediately guide and provide assistance to undocumented and illegally staying OFWs to avail of the Royal pardon," said Migrante regional coordinator John Leonard Monterona.

An article posted on the Saudi Gazette said Saudi’s Ministry of Interior has announced a blanket “Royal pardon" for residency law violations, and illegal residents are advised to complete the procedure for their departure at the foreigners’ personnel offices of the Kingdom.

According to the article, applications for inclusion in the pardon will be processed from September 25, 2010 to March 23, 2011.

“The ministry advised all individuals who have broken the law to take up this opportunity. There will be harsh penalties for people who continue to commit violations, including for those who shelter violators. Penalties include imprisonment, fines, confiscation of vehicles and having their names published in local newspapers," the article stated.

Monterona said the amnesty will benefit OFWs who remain in the Kingdom even as their iqama or residency permits have already expired.

He added most of the Filipino workers illegally staying in Saudi Arabia are absconders who ran away from their employers, claiming abuses, maltreatment and labor malpractices.

Records from the group show that of the 2 million-plus Filipinos in Saudi Arabia, some 3,000 are undocumented.

“There is also a considerable number of illegal and undocumented OFWs in other Middle East countries like the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Bahrain, Lebanon, Qatar, and Oman," Monterona said.

Government records show Saudi Arabia remains the top destination for OFWs, with almost 300,000 Filipinos deployed in the Kingdom last year.

The Saudi Gazette article said there is an estimated one to three million illegal residents in the country.

According to the report, 105,494 attempts to enter the country at nine land and sea crossing points were registered in the first seven months of this year, with the highest single figure registered in Jizan province where 89,942 illegal immigrants were detained.—Jerrie M. Abella/JV, GMANews.TV

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