Some OFWs in Saudi Arabia reduced to selling blood for cash


Some OFWs in Saudi Arabia who have not received their salaries for five months have been reduced to selling their blood just to earn money, a report on "News To Go" said Wednesday.
"Dito lang kami sa bahay, sir, tapos kung walang-walang pera na nagdo-donate na lang kami ng dugo [sa mga ospital]," one of the OFWs said. "Pagkatapos pahinga ng konti, ibang ospital naman."
The report said the OFWs, who are currently without work, are also worried of getting arrested as their residence permits have become invalid.
In a memorandum, the OFWs' employer has asked for understanding for its failure to give their salaries. It also promised to give their one-month salary next week.
The employer, which the report only described as a large firm, also promised that things will go back to normal in March.
The report also said failure to send remittances to their families in the Philippines has resulted in some of the OFWs having problems regarding their marriages.
The OFWs, meanwhile, have expressed their intention to go home to the Philippines.
"Di naman namin alam kung ano ang hinihintay namin dito, kung meron o wala, sir," one of the OFWs said. "Pero at least kung nakauwi na kami sa Pilipinas, mas maganda ho siguro ang laban dun."
Pro-OFW groups have warned of massive retrenchments looming in the Middle East as a result of the drastic drop in oil prices. he government, on the other hand, said programs are in place to assist OFWs who may be displaced by the oil situation in the region.
There are an estimated 2 million OFWs in the Middle East, most of them in Saudi Arabia. —KBK, GMA News

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