Saudi asked: Help for repatriation of 200 OFWs

MANILA -- The Philippine government has sought the assistance of the Saudi Social Welfare Agency (SSWA) in the repatriation of nearly 200 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), Malacañang said Sunday.

Manila’s request for help was transmitted when Chief of President Protocol and Presidential Assistant on Foreign Affairs Robert Borje and Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs Sarah Lou Arriola met with Mohammad Ibrahim Jalal, SSWA director-general of the Ministry of Labor and Social Development for Makkah AlMukarramah Region in Jeddah on Saturday.

The Palace said the condition of Filipinos in Jeddah was raised during the meeting.

Highlighting the importance of close cooperation, the SSWA and the Philippine Consulate General agreed to step up collaboration to help distressed OFWs for their eventual repatriation, Malacañang added.

“Undersecretary Arriola asked the assistance of SSWA to help less than 200 distressed Filipinos, particularly household workers, especially in fast-tracking their cases so that they can be repatriated,” the Palace said in a statement.

“As a response, Director-General Mohammad Ibrahim Jalal vowed to help the Philippine Consulate General, saying SSWA’s mandate is to solve labor cases in Saudi Arabia and to repatriate distressed workers. He made a commitment to tend every case of Filipino workers,” it added.