Few OFWs able to register for back pay

MANILA, Philippines — The long wait continues for thousands of formerly Saudi-based overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) claiming back wages and separation pay.

Recruitment consultant Manny Geslani yesterday reported that the payment of back wages “still looks bleak” for most claimants, with only a few of them having been able to register to get their claims.

“So far  the trip of Migrant Workers Secretary Susan Ople to  Saudi Arabia is on hold with no advisory of the Saudi government when she can leave for the kingdom to negotiate for the payment of these back wages,” Geslani said.

He added that until this time, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) seemed at a loss as to the right Saudi Arabian department to discuss this payment.

Geslani further noted that the mandated registration for former employees of Saudi Oger Ltd. has also suffered delays.

Citing information coming from OFW-Family Club president Roy Señeres Jr., fewer than 200 OFWs were able to register as required by the Saudi embassy.

Señeres is a lawyer representing former workers of Saudi Oger Ltd. in their registration held at DMW offices.

Many of the claimants were unable to register because many of the preliminary documents required such as passports and iqamas were not with them anymore, according to Geslani.

“Most of the workers have lost the required documents,” he said.

There are also those unable to register because they are not computer literate.

The registration period set by the Saudi embassy ended last Jan. 31.

The embassy ordered claimants to register after Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Salman agreed to shoulder the P1-billion wage claims of the OFWs during a bilateral meeting with President Marcos on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in Thailand last year.

Señeres told Geslani that it is very challenging for most of the workers to complete the requirements of the Saudi embassy.

“So that leads us again to the question of when and if ever will the 9,000 workers get paid by the Kingdom of the Saudi Arabian government,” Geslani said.