About 160 undocumented OFWs are set to go home to the Philippines as the Saudi government already gave them the permission to do so. President Duterte is also in Saudi Arabia for a two-day state visit.
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III made a formal announcement regarding the good news last Wednesday in a press briefing in line with the President’s visit to Saudi Arabia.
According to Bello, “I mentioned to the minister of labor of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia that there about more or less 160 runaways and I requested the minister to consider allowing all these OFWS to come back to the Philippines upon the return of President Rodrigo Duterte.”
According to Bello, the request was made last Tuesday during a meeting with their labor minister. Surprisingly, they positively responded to their request.
A bilateral agreement for both countries was also signed during the meeting. The said agreement covers the protection of OFWs, proper wages, fair working hours and other related labor issues.
Bello also confirmed that male and female undocumented OFWs are separated in different shelters. Females are staying at the Philippine Embassy’s Bahay Kalinga while Males are staying in a different place.
