Phl seeks Saudi Arabia's help for 19 distressed OFWs

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines has asked Saudi Arabia’s help for 19 distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who had filed cases against their employer for maltreatment.

Philippine Ambassador to Riyadh Ezzedin Tago raised with Prince Fahd bin Badr bin Abdul Aziz, the emir of Al-Jouf Region, the case of 19 Filipinos employed at Al-Sabilah Concrete Co. in Domat Al-Jandal, Al-Jouf.

In a letter, Tago sought the emir’s intervention to ensure the quick resolution of the case now filed with the Al-Jouf Region Primary Court after the employer failed to appear at the Saudi Arabia regional labor office.

The emir assured Tago that he had ordered authorities to compel the employer to attend the Saudi Arabia labor court hearings.

The Emarah would ensure that the workers’ rights under Saudi Arabian law and their contracts are protected and guaranteed, the emir added.

Last March 20, the Al Jouf Labor Office elevated to the Primary Court the case of the 19 OFWs employed at Al Sabilah Concrete following attempts at an amicable settlement of the complaints failed.

The OFWs decided to proceed with the filing of the case against their company.

The OFWs complained that Al Sabila Concrete refused to facilitate their application for residence permits (iqama), compelled them to drive without licenses and failed to pay their overtime wages.

They also filed a complaint against their employer for maltreatment.

On Jan. 27, 2012, despite their employer’s threat of physical harm, a team composed of officers and staff from the Philippine Overseas Labor Office-Central Region Operations (POLO-CRO) went to Dowmat Al Jandal, Al Jouf to mediate between the two parties.

Initially, the employer promised to settle all legitimate and valid complaints of the workers.

The company took no concrete action on the workers’ grievances.

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) has taken appropriate actions against the recruitment agencies in the Philippines that deployed the aggrieved workers.                    

Al Sabilah Concrete and the concerned recruitment agencies have also been put on a watchlist, and POLO-CRO and POLO-Riyadh have suspended the processing of all deployment contracts. – Pia Lee-Brago