The government will provide assistance to distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia who were displaced by the lock-out of Azmeel Contracting Corporation, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said.
Bello arrived last week from Dammam with the first batch of repatriated OFWs, namely Catalino Palasigue, Victor Villanueva, Christopher Bulaong, Michael De Guzman, Jorge Dela Cruz, Jayson Vasallo, and Reynaldo Ramos.
The succeeding batches of OFWs are set to arrive weekly until December.
“When I asked the displaced OFWs, almost 100 percent wanted to be repatriated to the Philippines. We understand that they are lonely and they miss their families. Since the holiday season is almost here, we want to bring back the OFWs to their loved ones. To fast-track their repatriation, we will shoulder first the travel expenses and Azmeel will just pay us,” Bello said in a press briefing at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
He said that Azmeel promised to give the unpaid salaries of the OFWs and also provide for their fare back, adding that the agreement between the company and the Philippine government was witnessed by KSA’s Ministry of Labor.
The first batch of OFWs were already paid their salaries and provided financial assistance amounting to P20,000.
To facilitate their reintegration, the workers will be assisted in finding alternative employment or engaging in their chosen livelihood undertaking.
As the displaced employees used to work in construction, Bello said that he will coordinate with Secretary Arthur Tugade of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and Secretary Mark Villar of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) as numerous projects under the Build, Build, Build program are in need of construction workers.
