23,000 displaced OFWs in Saudi Arabia seek repatriation

Twenty-three thousand displaced overseas Filipino workers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are seeking repatriation.

Labor Attaché Nasser Mustafa of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Riyadh said the 23,000 OFWs were displaced amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said the number includes those who already finished their contracts, lost their jobs, were abandoned by their employers, and the undocumented OFWs.

“Our estimate before was 20,000, but we now have 23,000 displaced,” said Mustafa in a virtual press briefing on June 18.

“More than 5,900 have exit visa. We were also able to send home more than 2,700 through special and chartered flights of the Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Foreign Affairs and their companies,” he added.

Among those seeking repatriation are workers in an aluminum company in Jeddah that closed shop.

In a video, some of the displaced workers were seen scavenging for food.

Mustafa said that although the said company is providing a food allowance, it is not enough.

“I think that 150 riyal per person is not enough if you have no salary. Our OFWs also send money to their families,” he said.

The labor official said the 23,000 displaced OFWs have only one thing in mind as of the moment and that is to seek help so they can return home.

Mustafa said they are just waiting for available flights or mercy flights for them to bring the displaced OFWs home.