RIYADH: Teams of the Ministry of Labor and Social Development are visiting camps of the Saudi Oger company to assist the distressed workers, according to Imelda Panolong, Philippine consul general.

She said it following her talks with Abdullah bin Mohammed Al-Olayan, the ministry’s director general in the Makkah region, urging him to hasten the resolution of the cases of Filipinos.

The ministry’s teams have been providing food, water and medical aid to the workers in Jeddah, Panolong quoted Al-Olayan as saying. She said the jobless workers have the option to either go home on final exit or transfer iqamas to other companies.

The Saudi government will renew expired iqamas and provide exit visas and tickets to those who want to leave.

The ministry noted that several companies have approached it offering to absorb workers from Saudi Oger. The ministry will facilitate matching job requirements of these companies with those who want to be transferred.

“Workers with unpaid salaries and dues may issue a special power of attorney in favor of the consulate to follow up cases on their behalf. Workers who are not affected may continue to work,” she said.

Panolong said earlier she also met with Saudi Binladin Group officials to discuss the cases of distressed OFWs.

The group assured her that it would facilitate exit visas, pay due salaries and benefits and provide tickets to those who want to go home.

It said that 2,429 Filipinos were still working for the group while 1,069 intend to go back to the Philippines.

Their exit visas and final settlements are expected to be issued within two to three weeks.