Stranded Saudi OFWs to be repatriated ‘by force’

LABOR Secretary Silvestre Bello III said Thursday that the stranded overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) will be repatriated by hook or by crook.

In an interview, Bello said they will be headed to Riyadh on August 15 to supervise the repatriation operations conducted among the 11,000 OFWs stranded in the KSA.

“It will be a forced repatriation. It will be involuntary repatriation because we cannot afford to let them stay and become burden to the host country,” said Bello.

In addition, the labor chief said they have marching orders from President Rodrigo Duterte to bring home affected OFWs.

“He is very precise. Get them back at any cost. That demonstrates the concern of our President for the plight of our migrant workers,” said Bello.

He related that the Office of the President has even allocated P249 million from the former’s contingency fund to finance the repatriation of the OFWs displaced by the recent oil price crisis that hit Saudi firms.

Another reason to pursue forced repatriation, Bello added, is the promised financial assistance of the Saudi King in paying for the plane fares of all affected OFWs.

“It is ASAP (as soon as possible) for us. The longer they stay there, the longer their suffering will be. Even their safety and health are being prejudiced by their continued stay there,” said Bello.

He said that the only reason they will allow affected OFWs to stay in Saudi is if they happen to secure new jobs.

“If some are able to get new employment, we will not blame them if they insist on staying,” said Bello.

Earlier, the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) identified some 11,000 OFWs as being displaced by the crisis that hit nine Saudi firms.

Of the number, the government has already repatriated only 1,700.

In a related development, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) said they have already provided the one-time financial assistance to a total of 7,155 OFWs and their families under its Relief Assistance Program (RAP).

OWWA said a total of 3,348 OFWs still at the jobsite; 510 repatriated OFWs; and 3,297 families of OFWs still at jobsite were already able to get the financial aid.

“Total cash assistance for all RAP beneficiaries has reached P96,930,733.98 to date,” said OWWA Administrator Rebecca Calzado in a statement.

Under the RAP, OWWA is providing a one-time financial grant to OFWs, whether still in Saudi or already repatriated, amounting to P20,000; while each family of affected OFW, who is still at jobsite, shall get P6,000.