OFWs want update on unpaid salaries, benefits from Saudi Arabia

By JOVILAND RITA, GMA Integrated News Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) on Monday voiced their concerns about their unpaid salaries and benefits from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) during a meeting with the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) on Monday. advertisement The KSA had committed to allocate some 2 billion riyals for the unpaid salaries of some 10,000 overseas Filipinos employed by construction companies that declared bankruptcy. A joint technical working group composed of officials from both countries was created for the purpose. DMW media staff member Abigail Calinisan told GMA News Online that most of the OFWs’ concerns were about the status of their registration, which is a requirement to get the claims. In Sandra Aguinaldo's report on 24 Oras, more than 100 of the OFWs at the DMW that day were former employees of Saudi Oger Ltd.—a construction firm that shuttered in 2017—who were worried about their claims after encountering difficulty registering with the company website and the Saudi government online. In a report by Super Radyo dzBB’s Mark Makalakad, the OFWs pointed out that they still do not have a claim number even though they have already registered on the website. They said they are also worried that their submission of requirements would not be acknowledged. DMW Undersecretary Patricia Yvonne Caunan said the department is still coordinating with the KSA. "Alam po namin ang inyong concerns, hindi po namin nakakalimutan, kahit kailan. Linggo-linggo, fino-follow up namin," she told the people waiting in the office. The DMW said they will report the claimants' concerns to the people they are speaking with in the kingdom. President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. had received the "good news" of the payment of back wages from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during their bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit. The 2 billion riyals will cover the unpaid salaries of workers employed by Saudi Oger, MMG, the Bin Laden group, and other construction firms that have yet to pay back Filipino workers. Asked when the OFWs will receive the unpaid salaries, DMW Secretary Susan “Toots” Ople said they were still consulting with the KSA government on the payment details. She also said she wants to go to Saudi Arabia for a deeper discussion on the issue, according to the 24 Oras report. Attorney Roy Señeres Jr., the OFWs' legal adviser, said they are also hoping for the creation of a master list that Ople can bring with her. "Madala niya po ito at maibigay ito personal doon sa kanyang mga counterpart," he said. The DMW had said that some 10,000 Filipino workers had lost their jobs during the time the companies had closed down, but the Saudi Oger ex-employees said that they alone already numbered around 9,000. Some of the people at the DMW were family members of unpaid former employees who had since died. "Bibisitahin natin yung listahan ng OWWA, at makikipag-coordinate tayo sa counterpart natin, upang maibigay sa kanila itong listahan na ito at mai-check nila," Caunan said. — BM, GMA Integrated News

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