Gov’t now working for repatriation of OFWs who resorted to scavenging in Riyadh —OWWA

The government is now assisting around 200 overseas Filipino workers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia who have resorted to scavenging for food to survive after losing jobs amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration administrator Hans Cacdac said Thursday.

Cacdac was referring to the plight of OFWs working for an aluminum company but have been out of work for the last four months due to the pandemic.

“Napatawag na namin iyong kanilang recruitment agency, naidulog na rin po sa POEA (Philippine Overseas Employment Administration) ang kawalan ng aksyon ng kanilang ahensiya, at para sila ay agarang makauwi,” Cacdac said in an interview on Unang Balita.

“May efforts na po ang ating embahada at Labor Office sa Riyadh para makauwi sila sa Pilipinas at panagutin ang kanilang recruitment agency,” he added.

Likewise, Cacdac said the OFWs who have resorted to scraps need not worry about their pawned passports because the government will help them secure the necessary travel papers.

But for immediate assistance, he said the out of work OFWs will also receive food assistance from the Philippine Labor Office in Riyadh pending their repatriation.

“Padadalhan po sila ng food assistance para maitawid po sila, hanggang sila ay makauwi,” Cacdac said.

“Medyo naantala lang po kasi meron pong mga nagpositive na OWWA at Labor Office personnel,” he added.—AOL, GMA News