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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Sudden suspension of Saudi deployment leaves over 200 OFWs stranded at NAIA

Sudden suspension of Saudi deployment leaves over 200 OFWs stranded at NAIA

Published May 28, 2021 01:51 pm

More than two hundred overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are left stranded at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 Friday, May 28 after the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) suddenly suspended the deployment of workers to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).

(Ariel Fernandez / MANILA BULLETIN)

"In the interest of the service,, you are hereby instructed to effect the temporary suspension of deployment of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia effective immediately and until further notice," read a DOLE memorandum addressed to Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) Bernard Olalia.

The memo was posted on the DOLE reporters' viber group Friday morning and had Secretary Silvestre Bello III's signature.

"The Department received reports that departing OFWs are being required by their employers /foreign recruitment agencies to shoulder the costs of the health and safety protocol of COVID-19 and insurance coverage premium upon their entry in the Kingdom," added the memo dated May 27, 2021.

On Friday morning, over 200 OFWs bound for Riyadh and Dammam via separate Philippine Airlines (PAL) flights lined up at airline counters in NAIA desperately waiting for clearance from DOLE.

DOLE Director Rolly Garica said in a virtual press conference that the memorandum was issued just before the close of office hours Thursday. The presser is ongoing as of this posting.

OFW Andrew Umayam slammed the sudden decision which he said was not coordinated with the airlines.

"Ano mangyayari sa amin ngayon, wala kami matutuluyan ngayon. Galing pa kami ng probinsya. Malaki ginastos namin sa swab test at hotel booking. Dapat maibalik yan sa amin (What will happen to us now, we don't have anywhere to go. We came from the province. We spent a lot of money on the swab test and hotel booking. That should be refunded to us)," Umayam said. (With reports from Ellson Quismorio)

Related Tags

SAUDI ARABIA Memorandum OFW NAIA stranded 52621 dole
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