RIYADH: An Overseas Filipino Workers’ (OFW) advocacy group on Monday urged the Philippine Embassy to work toward the repatriation of hundreds of undocumented workers in the Kingdom to prevent another “Tent City.”
According to the group, there are 800 undocumented workers living on their own in rented houses in Riyadh, 80 distressed and stranded male Filipinos, having labor issues with their employer, at the male shelter in Exit 8 villa in the capital and 150 women, eight of them with children, at the Bahay Kalinga in the city.
A source said that at least 40 runaway housemaids are currently enrolled at the Saudi Social Welfare Agency (SWA) in the capital. The embassy, however, could not confirm the figure.
“We reiterate that the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and its diplomatic posts in Riyadh sincerely work for the mass repatriation of undocumented workers,” said John Monterona, convener of the United OFWs Worldwide (U-OFWs).
Monterona revealed that during informal conversations, some PH attaches in Saudi Arabia have expressed the same view. “If the embassy in Kuwait can arrange a yearly mass repatriation of undocumented workers, why can’t it be done in Saudi Arabia,” asked Monterona.
He cited that last April 26, 2016, 143 stranded and undocumented OFWs in Kuwait were repatriated by the embassy under its Assisted Voluntary Repatriation Program (AVRP).
Monterona said his group is monitoring and providing assistance to distressed, stranded, and undocumented OFWs in Saudi Arabi. He warned that hundreds of such workers will be forced to set up camps near the diplomatic buildings or offices.
In 2012, thousands of undocumented OFWs set up a camp that was dubbed as “The Tent City” near the consulate building in Jeddah.
There are reportedly 1.2 million OFWs, including undocumented workers, living and working in Saudi Arabia.
According to the group, there are 800 undocumented workers living on their own in rented houses in Riyadh, 80 distressed and stranded male Filipinos, having labor issues with their employer, at the male shelter in Exit 8 villa in the capital and 150 women, eight of them with children, at the Bahay Kalinga in the city.
A source said that at least 40 runaway housemaids are currently enrolled at the Saudi Social Welfare Agency (SWA) in the capital. The embassy, however, could not confirm the figure.
“We reiterate that the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and its diplomatic posts in Riyadh sincerely work for the mass repatriation of undocumented workers,” said John Monterona, convener of the United OFWs Worldwide (U-OFWs).
Monterona revealed that during informal conversations, some PH attaches in Saudi Arabia have expressed the same view. “If the embassy in Kuwait can arrange a yearly mass repatriation of undocumented workers, why can’t it be done in Saudi Arabia,” asked Monterona.
He cited that last April 26, 2016, 143 stranded and undocumented OFWs in Kuwait were repatriated by the embassy under its Assisted Voluntary Repatriation Program (AVRP).
Monterona said his group is monitoring and providing assistance to distressed, stranded, and undocumented OFWs in Saudi Arabi. He warned that hundreds of such workers will be forced to set up camps near the diplomatic buildings or offices.
In 2012, thousands of undocumented OFWs set up a camp that was dubbed as “The Tent City” near the consulate building in Jeddah.
There are reportedly 1.2 million OFWs, including undocumented workers, living and working in Saudi Arabia.
