Employer of An OFW Who Tested Positive of COVID-19 Allows Sharing of Rooms Inside Saudi Accommodation

An Overseas Filipino Worker in Saudi Arabia is asking for help after their employer refused to attend to their needs and even forced them to stay inside a room with a COVID-19 positive.

“Hanggang nabubuhay pa kami, ‘wag nyo na antayin na may mamatay pa dahil pinapabayaan kami ng employer namin,” says OFW Alvin Benitez in a Facebook post.

Benitez is asking for help to return to the Philippines before something bad happens to them. He is working as a pastry chef in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for 8 months. But on May 18, he discovered that he is positive of COVID-19.

“Pina-check nila ako. Tapos hindi pa lumalabas ang resulta pinatrabaho pa nilaako,” says Benitez. “Nung lumabas yung resulta, ayun ng positive ako.”

According to Benitez, 8 Filipinos are working in the restaurant and 3 of them already tested positive of COVID-19. He also showed their room which is very stuffy, giving it a higher chance to pass the virus to his other roommates.

“Ito yung accommodation namin. Ito yung kasama ko, hindi pa nagpa-check up. Pinagsama kami sa iisang kwarto,” says Benitez.

The OFW also confessed that even their salary is not given to them rightfully. Only half of their salary for the entire month was given to them.

Meanwhile, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) promised to help Benitez and his group.

“Yun pong ating assistance to nationals ng ating Embassy ay makikipag-coordinate posa Saudi Labor Ministry para mabigyan po ng karampatang attention medikal yung mga kababayan po nating positive,” says Jay Teves, OWWA.

Once they find out that the employer has violations, they will be held liable. Before they can acquire an exit pass, OWWA promised that they will get what is due for them.

Currently, they are still waiting for the government’s action especially in their repatriation back to the Philippines.

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