RIYADH, 25 October 2004 — Three Filipino workers based in the Eastern Province want to be repatriated, citing a litany of complaints such as salary reduction, no overtime pay, and poor accommodation, among others, the Philippine Embassy has said.
In a press statement, the embassy said the workers also complained of absence of medical assistance, non-issuance of iqama, mistreatment by employer’s brother, and being made to work without food on certain occasions.
Labor Attaché Delmer R. Cruz, head of the embassy’s Eastern Region Operations, identified the workers as Ricardo Manla, a carpenter; Oliver Tubac, a plumber; and Alan Tuguro, an electrician.
The workers are employed by Salman Saleh Ahmed Esraih Establishment, with address at Qatif, Cruz said in a report to Ambassador Bahnarim A. Guinomla.
He said the workers were deployed by CBM International Agency and RML Agency on May 27.
Cruz informed the ambassador that he had written the employer and notified Manila about the complaints of the workers.
According to the press statement, embassy staff Abdulrauf Agao also visited the three workers in Alawamiya, a remote area in Qatif, to check on their conditions.
Guinomla has instructed Cruz “to pursue the resolution of the complaints of the Filipino workers with vigor to ensure that their rights and welfare are protected,” said the report.
More Grievances
In another statement, the embassy said a group of Filipino workers had asked the ambassador to air their grievances against the management of a medical clinic where they are currently employed.
In their letter, the group complainted, among others, that they were being made to pay for the cost of their iqama (SR 753 a year), unpaid overtime work and unsuitable accommodation.
“The workers also pointed out that two new nurses who have joined them had to pay for the cost of their visas,” said the press statement.
It said the clinic staff also complained that they were made to pay for the cost of change of visa and that one of their co-workers who sustained injury in the face and neck due to burns was told to pay the cost of medication.
“Another worker, according to the group, was not paid her salary for the months of July, August and September. Her overtime pay claims, they said, were also unpaid,” the statement added.
Guinomla yesterday said he had instructed Riyadh Labor Attaché Manuel Roldan to look urgently into the workers’ complaints.
