Group: 'Stranded OFWs in Saudi still number thousands'

MANILA, Philippines – A migrant workers' rights group on Monday belied reports that the number of stranded overseas Filipino workers in Saudi Arabia who have sought repatriation is only 138. 

Quoting some of the stranded OFWs, Migrante vice chairperson John Monterona said there are still 1,018 stranded OFWs at the ‘Tent City, contrary to the 138 figure released by Department of Foreign Affairs.

DFA assistant secretary Raul Hernandez said there are 138 stranded OFWs in Saudi Arabia, four of whom are at the PH embassy in Riyadh.

“The leaders of the stranded OFWs did a head count upon hearing the number released by the DFA. They’ve counted 1,018 of them at the ‘Tent City’ as of yesterday night, excluding those inside the PH consulate who sought temporary refuge,” Monterona said.

 â€œDFA spokesman could have misread the report on the remaining number of the stranded OFWs from PH consulate officers in Saudi Arabia or the PH consulate sent him an erroneous figure," he added.

The Department of Labor and Employment, citing reports from its labor officials in Saudi Arabia, confirmed that there are 6,500 stranded OFWs in Jeddah who requested assistance for repatriation, while 3,500 in Riyadh.

Monterona said their records showed nearly 12,000 OFWs have sought repatriation as early as January this year before Saudi’s massive crackdown of ‘illegal’ workers.

“But since the Saudi authorities staged massive crackdown of ‘illegal’ migrant workers on mid-April and followed by the granting of the 90-day grace period by the Saudi King, we have estimated around 22,000 OFWs who sought government assistance, some of them for repatriation, while others wanted to be transferred to other sponsor-employer,” Monterona added.

“The PH government should also properly attend the welfare of the stranded OFWs who have been at the ‘Tent City’ since mid-April by continuously providing food, water, medicines, and other needs. The supplies provided by the PH consulate is still wanting,” Monterona said.