JEDDAH, 7 February 2008 — A total of 84 stranded Filipinos, who have been staying under a bridge in Jeddah’s Kandarah district for the past weeks, moved to the Philippine Consulate General yesterday to press their appeal for immediate repatriation.
“We intend to remain here at the consulate and hope that our government would gather its resolve and help us return to our families in the Philippines,” one of the workers said as they put up tents inside the consulate compound.
The group includes 10 women, two babies and 72 men, who ran away from their employers in Riyadh or the Eastern Province, and were transported to Jeddah reportedly by “fixers” with the promise that they could leave the Kingdom through a “backdoor” exit.
They camped out under the Kandarah bridge with instructions by “fixers” to wait for Saudi immigration police to round them up and take them to the deportation center. To their dismay, the workers have repeatedly been left out by immigration police tasked to move expatriates from the bridge to the deportation center.
Eric Jocson, one of the group’s leaders, said only 17 Filipino women were lucky enough to be allowed to board a bus that took other expatriates last Tuesday.
Jocson said five buses also came to the bridge yesterday and four of these were packed with other expatriates, but police let the fifth one leave without taking any passenger. “The (officials) were looking at us as if to say you pay and we will take you,” said another worker, who asked not to be named.
In a dialogue with consulate officials yesterday, the workers appealed for help in getting them through the “backdoor.”
They said there is indeed a backdoor exit if one pays the right price.
Consul General Ezzedin Tago, however, reiterated his earlier stand that the consulate will help the stranded workers only through the legal way.
According to Tago, Saudi officials are willing to expedite the repatriation process but the workers should submit first their personal and employment details, including their reasons for running away.
Immigration officials would call the employer concerned and ask them to provide exit papers for the worker.
Consul Jose Jacob said the advantage of leaving legally is that if the employer provides an NOC, or no objection certificate, the worker can always return to the Kingdom under a better employer.
Asked how long would the “legal process” take, Tago said: “That depends on the availability of information and sponsor. I have spoken to the Saudi Authorities about this matter and they said that they will help to locate the sponsors. We cannot determine the time frame of the process. But we can assure you that we will pursue your case.”
Only two of the workers agreed to pass through the “legal process.” They submitted their details with the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO).
The rest said they were scared that their employers would fabricate charges against them.
“They (employers) are also scared that we would file a complaint against them, so naturally they would jump the gun by fabricating charges against us,” explained another worker during the dialogue. Consulate officials present heard that many of the workers left their employers because they were made to sign contracts different from what they signed in the Philippines.
Some said they were being paid a monthly salary of only 300 riyals, and some were slapped deductions of 200 riyals. “How do you expect us to survive with that kind of pay?” one of the workers said.
The dialogue ended with Consul General Tago encouraging the workers to rethink their stand. “There is no other option but the legal way. Due process is a must,” he said, adding that the “consulate will not and will never take part” in what “fixers” are doing.
Tago allowed the workers to spend the night at the consulate ground, but would not say for how long they could stay.
The POLO, headed by Labor Attaché Bulyok Nilong, and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) under Labor Attaché Adam Musa, meanwhile, said they would to continue providing food for the workers.
Community groups have also been helping feed the workers.
