The Philippine government will give financial assistance worth P10,000 to those Overseas Filipino Workers as they wait for the government to pay back their salaries when their companies were shut down in the 2015 and 2016 recession in Saudi Arabia.
“To the claimants, we are extending a humanitarian package,” according to Susan Ople, Secretary of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW).
“It may be modest, but I hope that somehow it can help, especially to those who are sick or those who can no longer find jobs, particularly to those who have passed away and their families,” she added.
The funds to finance this program will come from DMW and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
“We will be signing a memorandum of agreement with Secretary Rex Gatchalian to arrange the scheduling as soon as possible. The money is already there, we just need to finalize the mechanics and guidelines, and OWWA will be releasing them,” says Ople.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman promised PH President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. that the Saudi Arabia government will shoulder the salary of 10,000 OFWs whose companies closed down due to the economic crisis.
It’s estimated that KSA will have to spend 2 billion riyals to pay the salary of these OFWs, who were mostly working at the Saudi Oger, MMG, and Bid Laden Group.
In an interview, Ople confirmed that the Saudi Labor Secretary is now ready to resolve the said payables.
“There’s no question, it’s just really a matter of them figuring out how to go about it, kasi huwag po natin kalimutan ang na-bankrupt hindi yung Saudi government, ang na-bankrupt ‘yung 2015-2016 mga private construction companies and hindi lang tayo ang nationality,” Ople explained.
Meanwhile, DMW Undersecretary Bernard Olalia is set to go to Saudi Arabia this March 19 to talk further on the details of the OFW’s back pay.
