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Philippines Vice-President Jejomar Binay has given instructions to embassy officials in Riyadh to begin processing the travel documents of some 4,500 overstaying Filipinos in Saudi Arabia after the kingdom recently agreed to their repatriation.
Binay, who held discussions with officials of the Saudi Arabian government over the past several days, announced on his arrival in Manila on Wednesday that the repatriation of the overstaying Filipinos would "commence as soon as the required and the individual concerned has acquired a plane ticket".
"The decision to facilitate the repatriation of the ‘overstayers' is a favour we owe to the generosity of King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz, who has given amnesty to so many OFWs [Overseas Filipino Workers] in the past," he said.
State to bear cost
Binay, who also visited Qatar during his Middle East trip, said the cost of repatriating the OFWs would be shouldered by the government, observing that getting the 4,500 workers back home would entail close to 143 million pesos (Dh12.09 million).
The affected workers are currently housed in various resource centres in Riyadh and Jeddah, besides the Haj terminal as well as private homes.
"Until this happens [repatriation], the government will have to continue paying 15 Saudi Arabian riyals per day for every OFW awaiting repatriation at the Haj terminal," Binay said.
During his meeting with Saudi officials, Binay said ministers were "looking forward to a quick solution of the problems that have arisen from the new [labour] conditions".
The resolution of these concerns is imperative "so that the hiring of more household workers, which is now suspended, could soon resume", he added.
Binay added that Saudi and Philippine officials have scheduled a bilateral meeting in Manila on April 15 to find amicable solutions to the issue.
Binay said that the Saudi government was determined to reform the entire recruitment process for the benefit of the workers and their hosts and employers.
Binay, who held discussions with officials of the Saudi Arabian government over the past several days, announced on his arrival in Manila on Wednesday that the repatriation of the overstaying Filipinos would "commence as soon as the required and the individual concerned has acquired a plane ticket".
"The decision to facilitate the repatriation of the ‘overstayers' is a favour we owe to the generosity of King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz, who has given amnesty to so many OFWs [Overseas Filipino Workers] in the past," he said.
State to bear cost
Binay, who also visited Qatar during his Middle East trip, said the cost of repatriating the OFWs would be shouldered by the government, observing that getting the 4,500 workers back home would entail close to 143 million pesos (Dh12.09 million).
The affected workers are currently housed in various resource centres in Riyadh and Jeddah, besides the Haj terminal as well as private homes.
"Until this happens [repatriation], the government will have to continue paying 15 Saudi Arabian riyals per day for every OFW awaiting repatriation at the Haj terminal," Binay said.
During his meeting with Saudi officials, Binay said ministers were "looking forward to a quick solution of the problems that have arisen from the new [labour] conditions".
The resolution of these concerns is imperative "so that the hiring of more household workers, which is now suspended, could soon resume", he added.
Binay added that Saudi and Philippine officials have scheduled a bilateral meeting in Manila on April 15 to find amicable solutions to the issue.
Binay said that the Saudi government was determined to reform the entire recruitment process for the benefit of the workers and their hosts and employers.
