RP post repatriates last batch of striking OFWs from Saudi

The last batch of overseas Filipino workers (OFW) who went on strike in Saudi Arabia last year were repatriated on Monday, according to the Philippine post in Riyadh.

Cesar Chavez Jr., Philippine welfare officer in Riyadh, said in an interview with GMANews.TV that 13 workers of the operation and construction firm Annasban Group were repatriated.

This last batch completes the 43 OFWs who went on strike and were promised repatriation until February 15 after staging a few days of hunger strike. (See: Protesting OFWs in Saudi ask RP to repatriate them)

The 43 were part of the three groups of OFWs who staged a work stoppage on October 12 last year due to alleged unfair labor practices by their company.

Chavez also clarified that neither the Philippine Overseas Labor Office nor the workers shouldered the repatriation costs, and that the company agreed to waive fees, such as reimbursement of deployment costs, which it earlier demanded.

"'Yung recruitment agency nila sa Pilipinas ang nag-ayos ng repatriation. Napakiusapan din ang kumpanya nila dito sa Saudi na i-waive 'yung fees. Mass resignation kasi yan so entitled dapat ang Annasban sa reimbursement ng deployment costs," Chavez said.

(It's the workers' recruitment agency in the Philippines that arranged the repatriation. We also persuaded the company here in Saudi to agree to waive the fees. The workers resigned en masse so normally, Annasban would have been entitled to reimbursement of deployment costs.)

Chavez also said he will ask the Philippine post in Jeddah to look into the case of one Filipina caregiver, also employed by Annasban, who was earlier reported to have contracted a skin disease from a patient under her care.

“Leonora" (not her real name) claimed she contracted the painful, blistering skin rash herpes zoster or shingles from one of her patients, and is now seeking repatriation. (See: Pinay caregiver in Riyadh seeks repatriation due to illness)

"'Yung mga kababayan natin dito, kapag nagkasakit, pananagutan ng employer na ipagamot. For the first 30 days, ipapagamot siya nang libre at may suweldo rin. Sa next 60 days, libre pa rin ang gamot at makakatanggap ng 75% ng kanyang sweldo," Chavez explained.

(The medical treatment of Filipino workers here who get sick are the company's responsibility. For the first 30 days, costs of treatment will be shouldered by the company while the worker continues to receive her salary. For the next 60 days, the treatment will still be paid for by the company, and the worker will still receive 75% of her salary.)

Leonora allegedly refused the company's help, claiming that she was being forced to return to work in exchange for her treatment.

She said she does not want to go back to what she called deplorable working conditions, such as risky work designation and the low salary she received, adding that she just wants to return to the Philippines.

Chavez said they will look further into her case.—Jerrie M. Abella/JV, GMANews.TV

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