Phl sends back 4,371 OFWs from Saudi

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - The Philippine government has already repatriated 4,371 Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) from Saudi Arabia, as the Saudi government is expected to crack down on illegal foreign workers, a government official said today.

The Philippine government has also assisted 9,000 OFWs in renewing their travel documents and is awaiting the immigration clearance of 1,500 others, following the implementation of the Saudization policy that started on Nov. 3, said Presidential Communications Operations Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. in a radio interview on Sunday.

The Philippine government would continue to assist the OFWs affected by the Saudization policy from legal assistance to enable them to continuously stay and work in Saudi, assisting them in finding work in other countries or extending financial aid to enable them to start their own businesses in the country, Coloma said.

He said the government is still waiting for Saudi Arabia's response to the request of Vice President and Presidential Adviser on OFW Concerns Jejomar Binay for Saudi Arabia King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to extend the deadline for the legalization of the OFWs in their country.

The Saudization policy requires companies to increase the number of Saudi nationals in their workforce. Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah has extended an amnesty for foreign workers to obtain legal status in the country until the end of the Islamic year on Nov. 3, from the previous deadline of July 3.

Undocumented OFWs who are caught by Saudi authorities faces imprisonment of six months to a year and a fine of 12,000 to 20, 000 Saudi rials.