OFW
T
he government will
provide assistance to
distressed overseas
Filipino workers (OFWs)
from the Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia who were
displaced by the lock-out
of Azmeel Contracting Corporation,
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said.
Bello arrived last week from Dammam with the first batch of
repatriated OFWs, namely Catalino Palasigue, Victor Villanueva,
Christopher Bulaong, Michael De Guzman, Jorge Dela Cruz,
Jayson Vasallo, and Reynaldo Ramos.
The succeeding batches of OFWs are set to arrive weekly
until December.
“When I asked the displaced OFWs, almost 100 percent
wanted to be repatriated to the Philippines. We understand
that they are lonely and they miss their families. Since the
holiday season is almost here, we want to bring back the OFWs
to their loved ones. To fast-track their repatriation, we will
shoulder first the travel expenses and Azmeel will just pay us,”
Bello said in a press briefing at the Ninoy Aquino International
Airport.
He said that Azmeel promised to give the unpaid salaries
of the OFWs and also provide for their fare back, adding that
the agreement between the company and the Philippine
Bello assures aid to displaced KSA
workers
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III
government was witnessed by KSA’s Ministry of Labor.
Michael De Guzman, who served as the leader of the OFWs,
said that aside from unpaid salaries, they were not issued an
Iqama (residence permits) and that they were given a different
contract by their company.
Nonetheless, he expressed his gratitude to the Philippine
government for extending the necessary assistance to them
and expressed hope that their co-workers who were left
behind will be repatriated in the coming weeks.
The first batch of OFWs were already paid their salaries and
provided financial assistance amounting to P20,000.
To facilitate their reintegration, the workers will be assisted
in finding alternative employment or engaging in their chosen
livelihood undertaking.
As the displaced employees used to work in construction,
Bello said that he will coordinate with Secretary Arthur Tugade
of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and Secretary
Mark Villar of the Department of Public Works and Highways
(DPWH) as numerous projects under the Build, Build, Build
program are in need of construction workers. www.dole.
gov.ph
“When I asked the displaced OFWs, almost 100 percent wanted to be repatriated to the
Philippines. We understand that they are lonely and they miss their families. Since the
holiday season is almost here, we want to bring back the OFWs to their loved ones. To
fast-track their repatriation, we will shoulder first the travel expenses and Azmeel will
just pay us,” Bello said in a press briefing at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
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