Some overseas Filipino workers were dismayed over the surprise deployment ban order of the Department of Labor and Employment to Saudi Arabia.
On Friday, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello said that they want an official document from Saudi Arabia first mandating that OFWs will not shoulder the quarantine, testing and insurance requirements.
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“Kaya ako nag-suspend pero temporary lang naman ito. Gusto ko ma-klaro ang Saudi government na yung mga OFW na darating doon ay ma-swab sila tapos maku-quarantine sila ng 10 days. Paano sila magbabayad nyan? ,” Bello said in a DZRH interview explaining his decision.
In a message to The Filipino Times, an outgoing OFW lamented that they’ve already paid for all the requirements and some of them even borrowed money in order to leave the country.
“Mahirap po sa amin ang nangyari dahil yung pera na ginastos nmin ay inutang lang namin talaga. Sobrang sayang,” OFW Gon Dacman said.
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OFW Olbert Lozano worries that his flight will be affected by the ban.
“Yes po flight ko na po sana sa May 30 ay nakapag swab na rin ako kanina. Sayang po ung binayad ko sa swab test,”he said.
DOLE says that around 464 OFWs were affected by the deployment ban on Friday. The number will continue to increase as the deployment ban stays. (TDT)
