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Saudi stranded OFWs refute DFA figure on latest count

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Press Release

16 June 2013
Saudi stranded OFWs refute DFA figure on latest count

The stranded OFWs who have sought government’s assistance for repatriation today belie the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) figure that there are remaining 138 stranded OFWs awaiting repatriation, according to Filipino migrant rights group Migrante.

Migrante Sectoral group vice chairperson John Leonard Monterona, also the group’s coordinator in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) citing report from the leaders of the stranded OFWs, said there are 1,018 stranded OFWs at the ‘Tent City’ as of yesterday, contrary to the 138 figure released by DFA spokesman.

Yesterday, DFA assistant secretary Raul Hernandez, the agency’s spokesman, said there are 138 stranded OFWs in Saudi Arabia: 134 at the ‘Tent City’ in Jeddah, while 4 at the PH embassy in Riyadh.

“The leaders of the stranded OFWs did a head count upon hearing the number released by the DFA. They’ve counted 1,018 of them at the ‘Tent City’ as of yesterday night, excluding those inside the PH consulate who sought temporary refuge,” Monterona added.

Monterona added, “DFA spokesman Asec Hernandez could have misread the report on the remaining number of the stranded OFWs from PH consulate officers in Saudi Arabia or the PH consulate sent him an erroneous figure.”

Monterona, however, said the stranded OFWs are suspecting that lowering their real numbers at the ‘Tent City’ could have been intentional ‘to make it appear that the government has done well’ in attending the repatriation of the stranded.

Jonjon, (not his real name as he requested his full name be withheld) one of the stranded OFWs at the ‘Tent City’ in Jeddah, said they are not satisfied of the PH consulate performance in assisting them to fix their documents so that they could be repatriated.

‘They could not even give us continuous supply of food, water, and medicines amid repeated request from the PH consulate and labor officials in Jeddah,” he lamented as he told Monterona during a chat yesterday night.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) citing reports from its labor officials in Saudi Arabia confirmed that there are 6,500 stranded OFWs in Jeddah who requested assistance for repatriation, while 3,500 in Riyadh.

On their part, Monterona said their records showed nearly 12,000 OFWs have sought govt. assistance as of January (2013), before Saudi’s massive crackdown of ‘illegal’ workers.

“But since the Saudi authorities staged massive crackdown of ‘illegal’ migrant workers on mid-April and followed by the granting of the 90-day grace period by the Saudi King, we have estimated around 22,000 OFWs who sought govt. assistance, some of them for repatriation, while others wanted to be transferred to other sponsor-employer,” Monterona added.

Yesterday, the DFA said 414 OFWs were repatriated from Saudi Arabia.

Citing data released by the Saudi labor ministry, Monterona said there are 4,500 Filipinos awaiting release of exit clearance, a Saudi immigration requirement so that expatriate worker will be allowed to leave the Kingdom.
As the 90-day grace period will be ending on July 3, Monterona calls on the PNoy govt. through the DFA, its embassy and labor officials in Saudi Arabia ‘to closely follow the release of exit clearances of the 4,500 stranded OFWs who wish to leave the Kingdom by constant interfacing with the concerned Saudi authorities.’

“The PH govt. should also properly attend the welfare of the stranded OFWs who have been at the ‘Tent City’ since mid-April by continuously providing food, water, medicines, and other needs. The supplies provided by the PH consulate is still wanting,” Monterona citing the leaders of stranded OFWs who plead for govt. supply.

Reference:

John Leonard Monterona

MIGRANTE vice chairperson

Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator

Mobile No. 0063 923 420 0112

Migrante file photo


Source: http://migranteme.blogspot.com/2013/06/saudi-stranded-ofws-refute-dfa-figure.html



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