Retrenched KSA OFWs appeal for Duterte's intervention


By RONALDO CONCHA
MANILA —Over a hundred former overseas Filipino workers from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia staged a protest rally on Tuesday to press Malacañang to act on their unpaid end-of-service benefits from a Saudi company that shut down three years ago.
Brandishing placards, they appealed to President Rodrigo Duterte as they massed up on the historic Mendiola Bridge (now Chino Roces Bridge) to intervene for the facilitation of the release of their unpaid benefits.
OFW rally at Mendiola. --R. CONCHA
OFW rally at Mendiola. --R. CONCHA

Thousands of Filipino workers in the Saudi Oger Construction company lost their jobs when the firm shut down when the financial crisis struck KSA's  economy in 2016.
Most of the retrenched foreign workers until now have not yet received their back pays, end-of-contract benefits, and other perks.
At the rally, they reminded Labor Secretary Sivestre Bello III of his promise when he visited KSA a few months back that their claims will be given once the retrenched workers are repatriated.
"Sinabi ni Secretary Bello na kayo ay magsiuwi na at pag na validate ang inyong mga claims at unpaid benefits ay kami na ang bahala," a protester quoted the Labor chief as saying.
Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) administrator Hans Leo Cacdac, the protesters said, also promised in the same KSA visit with Bello that their money is ready for release. But the "distribution" of the money hit a snag, forcing the OFWs to appeal for President Duterte's intervention. 
"Nitong huli ay nagkaka problema na, kaaya inihihingi natin ng tulong ang ating gobyerno ang ating Pangulo kung paano mareresolba eto at yung ating hinihingi na kung wala pa ay mabigyan tayo ng cash advance kung hindi nila maabonohan."
OFW Manolito, who claimed he worked at Saudi Oger for three decades, said: "Marami na ang namatay at naghihirap, marami ang hindi tinatanggap sa trabaho dahil overage na."
A total of 9,555 OFWs affected by Saudi Oger's closure are fighting for their benefits, with the biggest individual claim at P5 million.
"Pitong buwan po na sahod ang hindi niya nakuha, nakamatayan na lang ng mister ko ang inaantay nyang pinaghirapan niyang [pera]. Sana naman makuha na namin eto," Aleng Mirriam appealed.
OFW Alhexis Ordonez is asking the Philippine government to cover for at least 40% of their claims.
"kung hindi kami kikilos hanggang kailan kami maghihintay, wala na po kami ibang inaasahan kundi etong aming hinahabol," Ordonez said.
According to Ordonez, during Yesterday's rally they received an invitation from the office of Secretary Bello for a meeting on Wednesday. "Pinapapunta po kaming mga coordinator bukas sa opisina ni Secretary Bello." —LBG, GMA News

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