43 stranded OFWs in Saudi Arabia call for immediate repatriation

2 MIN READ

BAGUIO CITY (Apr. 18) — The 43 of 100 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) stranded in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia call on the Arroyo administration to facilitate their immediate repatriation to the country.

Waiting for mom from Saudi Arabia. Photo by Cye Reyes/NORDIS

The stranded OFWs employed by Anasban, a group of companies that deploys workers in Saudi Arabia, complained about several contract violations.

Most of them already finished their contracts with the said company, but these were illegally extended without any renewal of their respective contracts.

Seven of the 43 already stopped working with the company. The others still continue working fearing for their lives.

Rosalinda Necosia, a worker of the Anasban said in a phone interview, “our contract ended April 1 but we could not come home because our employers want to extend our contract even if we do not want to renew because of their maltreatment to us.”

Flora Bibit said, “My daughter is still working under the company although her contract ended on March 10 because she fears that they might be locked again in the rooftop.” She added that her daughter and other OFWs are often treated as prisoners.

Contract substitution

During their arrival in Saudi Arabia, most of these OFWs were surprised to find out that the jobs waiting for them were not what they applied for. They signed up for janitorial employment but ended up as care-giving assignments.

Flora Belinan, chairperson of Migrante-Metro Baguio, said in a press briefing these OFWs did not have any formal training on care giving but were forced because they did not have any choice.

Lower or delayed salaries

Belinan also said the workers are not getting their wages on time or even receive less than what was indicated in the contract.

“These workers are supposed to get 750 rials exclusive of overtime pay, but only gets 665 rials and are usually delayed for three months,” Belinan said, adding they also do not receive any medical nor dental benefits.

Moreover, workers mostly women claimed that they are prohibited to have days-off.

They are usually not allowed to go out of the compound.

According to some of the families of the stranded OFWs, there are also other maltreatments like sexual harassments, verbal and physical abuses. The workers are also not being fed properly.

Belinan said that the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA), Overseas Workers’ Welfare Administration (OWWA) and the administration are aware of these situations but are not doing any action for the stranded OFW’s.

“The administration is afraid that if they do some drastic actions on this, Saudi Arabia might close its doors for the Filipino workers,” said Belinan.

The families and relatives of these OFWs along with Migrante-Metro Baguio are calling for the government to intervene on this matter and work for the immediate repatriation of the stranded workers.

This stranded OFWs some coming from the Cordillera region, are the third batch of employees complaining against Anasban. There were 38 OFWs also with the same complaints against the said company in early 2006. Another 15 also experienced the same fate under the same company in November 2006. All have returned to the Philippines after several months of struggle. # Beverly Kay Nanilen Pambid and Miriam Guillermo for NORDIS