56 distressed OFWs arrive from Al Khobar in time for Christmas

A batch of 56 troubled OFWs, which is a part of over a thousand workers promised to be brought home from Saudi Arabia before Christmas, arrived Sunday morning at the NAIA.

Super Radyo dzBB reported Sunday morning that the batch arrived at 9:45 a.m. on PAL flight PR 683.

Officials from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) welcomed that repatriates and assisted them through processes needed before they could finally be reunited with their families, the report said.

Also, OWWA officials said the new arrivals were given financial assistance they expected from the government.

Last month, the Labor department said that a total of 1,470 OFWs affected by the lock-out at the Azmeel Contracting Corporation have not been paid their salaries for five months. The Philippine government promised them they would soon be back home.

Earlier, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III was quoted as saying they will be flown back home, "possibly before Christmas Day."

Philippine labor officials assisted affected OFWs in getting their back salaries and other benefits from Azmeel Contracting Company in Jeddah.

Bello last October went to Saudi Arabia to supervise assistance efforts and even talked with the Saudi Ministry of Labor.

OWWA administrator Hands Cadac, who was with Bello in last month's trip to the Kingdom, said: "Nakausap ni Secretary Bello ang Ministry of Labor at tiniyak nyang binanggit na ang mga workers natin ay mahalaga na ang Kapaskuhan ay ka piling ang kanilang mga pamilya kaya hanggat maaari ay makauwi na before Christmas."  —LBG, GMA News