22 distressed OFWs arrive from Riyadh

MANILA, Philippines - Twenty-two distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) arrived home from Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on Monday night, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) announced Tuesday.

The OWWA desk at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) said the 22 OFWs availed of the government’s repatriation program after they encountered problems while working in Saudi Arabia.

The Filipino workers arrived via Etihad Airways flight EY-428 at the NAIA Terminal 1 at around 11:30 p.m.

The Saudi Arabian government started a campaign against undocumented foreign workers early this month as part of its “Saudization” program.

Local OFW watchdogs estimate the number of troubled Filipino workers in the KSA alone at more than 3,000.