Gov't allots P2.9 M for repatriation of stranded OFWs in Saudi

MANILA, Philippines – Over 150 stranded Filipino workers in Saudi Arabia are expected to return home and finally be reunited with their families within the next two weeks, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) reported yesterday.

Acting Labor Secretary Marianito Roque said the government already allocated some $73,000 or P2.9 million for the immediate repatriation of 167 Filipino workers who ran away from their employers in Jeddah.

“I already sent to Jeddah $37,000 while the Department of Foreign Affairs gave $36,000 and that would be sufficient to cover the repatriation of all the remaining 167 workers there,” Roque said in an interview.

According to Roque, the Filipino workers will be returning in batches within the next seven to 10 days.

“They would probably be home within the next seven to 10 days but of course, their repatriation would still depend on the release of their exit clearance,” Roque added.

Roque said there were actually 178 runaway workers awaiting repatriation from Jeddah but 11 of them already returned home and paid the plane fares on their own.

But Roque said the government will reimburse the fares of those who are active members of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) while the recruitment agencies will pay back the non-OWWA members.

Members of Migrante International yesterday trooped to the DOLE main office in Intramuros, Manila to demand the immediate repatriation of the stranded workers in Jeddah. – Mayen Jaymalin