Philippine Embassy representatives visited hundreds of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) working for the Mohammad Al-Mojil Group (MMG) in Jubail last Wednesday to discuss issues related to delayed salaries, non-payment of end-of-service benefits and non-payment of vacation leave, among others.

“The OFWs had earlier sought assistance regarding their outstanding salaries and benefits from the company which has been facing severe financial difficulties for nearly a year now,” the embassy said in a statement.

After the meeting with 500 OFWs at the MMG camp in Jubail, the embassy officials proceeded to the MMG main office in Dammam to meet with the CEO and President William Milligan and other company officials.

The embassy officials conveyed the willingness of 461 of the 500 OFWs to be repatriated to the Philippines on condition that they will receive their three months wages in arrears and unpaid vacation salaries before they leave.

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

The embassy representatives also raised the issue of improving the company’s ability to distribute food that would sufficiently address the dietary requirements of the workers, as well as prioritizing the repatriation of OFWs with cases of termination due to medical reasons and those terminated with due cause.

The embassy representatives added that they will continue coordination with the MMG management and the OFWs to resolve the issues expeditiously.