OFWs claiming back wages: Be wary of fake ‘middlemen’

MANILA, Philippines — Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) set to receive P1 billion in back wages and separation pay from the Saudi Arabian government are advised to be wary of fake middlemen.

Migrant Workers Secretary Susan Ople said there are reports of unscrupulous individuals offering displaced OFWs from Saudi Arabia and their families faster release of their money claims.

“I would like to reach out to all claimants and their families, and would like to inform them that there are no middlemen here. This is purely a government-to-government discussion at the heart of which is the welfare of our affected displaced OFWs,” Ople said at a press conference yesterday.

“If anyone approaches you offering assistance to process claims, or is asking for your contact details, we’re letting you know that this is not true,” she added.

On the part of the agency, Ople said only she and Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Undersecretary Hans Cacdac are allowed to discuss matters related to the unpaid claims.

She encouraged the claimants to immediately report any person or group pretending to be DMW staff offering, whether online or through text, assistance to obtain their claims.

According to Ople, the DMW will not tolerate such illegal actions by their staff.

“If they’re from the DMW and offering to help while asking for a commission, we have zero tolerance for that. That is corruption of the worst kind. Dismissal from the service will be the least of their problems,” Ople further warned.

Ople said a technical working group that includes representatives from DMW and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has started discussions for a smooth and efficient consultative process between the Saudi and Philippine governments on the payment of claims.

At this time, she said, the time and other details on the release of money claims are still under discussion between the two countries.

Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Salman agreed to shoulder the P1-billion wage claims of OFWs during a bilateral meeting with President Marcos on the sidelines of the APEC Summit in Thailand.

Cacdac noted that about 12,000 Filipino construction workers whose employers declared bankruptcy in 2014 are covered by the money claims.

“We know for sure claimants are covered by respective court decisions; however, implementation meaning payment of their claims has long been awaited or long been delayed,” he said.

While awaiting the resolution of their money claims, Cacdac said, the government extended to the affected OFWs assistance amounting to P1 billion.

Ople gave assurances that the government will come out with a mechanism ensuring all claimants, including dependents who have already died and those who have gone back abroad, will receive their just compensation.

New jobs

Meanwhile, thousands of displaced OFWs from Saudi Arabia are going back to work soon, the DMW reported yesterday.

Cacdac reported that 96 percent of the displaced OFWs who trooped to the DMW-initiated job and livelihood fairs qualified for the new jobs they have applied for.

“Only four percent of the 2,639 registrants were deemed not qualified and the rest of the balance of about 96 percent either were qualified for a final interview or further interview,” Cacdac said at a press conference yesterday.

Last Saturday, the DMW mounted job and livelihood fairs for displaced OFWs from Saudi Arabia and their dependents.

At the Laging Handa public briefing yesterday, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) deputy administrator Honey Quiño reported that many displaced OFWs from Saudi Arabia opted to permanently stay and work in the country.

The OWWA official said the government intends to hold more job fairs, not only in Metro Manila but in other regions.