Gov't assures assistance to undocumented OFWs in Saudi Arabia

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - The government pledged to extend assistance to undocumented Filipinos in Saudi Arabia after the oil-rich kingdom gave foreign workers until Nov. 3 to obtain legal status in their country, a government official said here today.

Presidential Communications Operations Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has been coordinating with the government of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on how to extend assistance to undocumented Filipinos.

Vice President Binay, concurrent Presidential Adviser on Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) Concerns, had already sent a letter to Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saudto appeal that foreign workers be given another extension to correct their working status in the kingdom, he said.

After the Nov. 3 deadline, the Saudi government is expected to crackdown on illegal foreign workers.

The crackdown against illegal workers started on March 28 because of the kingdom's Saudization policy or nitaqat which encourages the employment of Saudi nationals in private firms.

The DFA said 4,300 undocumented Filipinos in Saudi Arabia had been repatriated and 9,000 others have been given travel documents. About 1,500 others have been waiting to be issued with immigration clearances.