Philippine Labor Secretary Erlinda Dimapilis-Baldoz arrives on Sunday and is scheduled to meet with her Saudi counterpart, Adel Fakeih to discuss labor issues, according to a top official in the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh.

“She is expected to do a follow-up on the existing labor agreement and discuss its implementation,” said Labor Attache Resty SM Dela Fuente of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Riyadh (POLO-Riyadh). He added that the possibility of expanded labor cooperation could also be explored.

The labor accord was earlier signed by Baldoz and Deputy Labor Minister Mufarrej bin Saad Al-Haqbani in Jeddah on May 20, 2013.

During her visit, Baldoz will also re-launch the reintegration program for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), Dela Fuente said.

Under the program, OFWs intending to go home for good will get financial assistance from the government for resettlement and rehabilitation in their home country.

Baldoz will also visit the Eastern Province where a number of OFWs have complained about unpaid salaries and delays in benefits from the companies they are working for.

The Philippine Embassy had earlier issued a statement saying that OFWs had sought assistance from the embassy to address the issue of outstanding salaries and benefits from the company which was facing severe financial difficulties.

The embassy had also sent representatives to visit the OFWs in Jubail to discuss issues related to delayed salaries, non-payment of end-of-service benefits and non-payment of vacation leave, among others.

After a meeting with 500 OFWs, the embassy officials had proceeded to the company’s main office in Dammam to meet with the CEO and president and other officials.

The embassy officials conveyed the OFWs’ willingness to be repatriated to the Philippines on condition that they will receive their three months wages in arrears and unpaid vacation salaries before their leave.

The management agreed to work with the embassy and Philippine Overseas Labor Office in the Eastern Region (POLO-ERO) to facilitate the repatriation in accordance with the OFWs’ proposal.