A total of 530 distressed Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW), stuck in Jubail waiting for their unpaid benefits, have appealed to their government to help them return home.

The families of the workers on Friday asked Philippine Department of Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz to seek assistance from the Saudi labor minister to resolve their situation.

The OFWs are demanding three months of unpaid salaries, 21 days of paid leave, and end-of-service benefits for those who completed their contracts.

According to John Leonard Monterona, regional coordinator of the rights group Migrante-Middle East (M-ME), the OFWs stopped working for the past two months in protest against alleged breach of contract by their employer and labor rights violations.

Monterona’s claim was disputed by the Philippine Labor Attaché Alejandro A. Padaen based in Alkhobar. In an email to Arab News, he said that the OFWs are not working because they completed their contracts and are waiting to be repatriated.

Padaen said there are around 530 workers affected and not 900 as stated previously. He said it has been difficult to repatriate the workers with full benefits because of the company's financial situation.

He said the company offered to pay the benefits of those who are willing to go home, through their designated banks in the Philippines, on a staggered basis over a period of three to six months. “The company has been repatriating those who agreed to this proposal in groups,” Padaen said.

Monterona accused Baldoz of failing to take prompt action to help the Filipino workers. “When it comes to peddling OFWs as cheap labor and commodities, Baldoz and her department are willing to spend huge amounts and much time. However, she fails to provide assistance to distressed OFWs.”

Monterona said the families and dependents of the workers have suffered a lot. He said some had extended their two-year contracts by one to two years. They are stuck because they are waiting for payment.

“Baldoz should organize and send a high-level delegation to Saudi Arabia to discuss and find a solution to the problems facing the OFWs,” Monterona said.