At least two groups of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) urged the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to lift the suspension of deployment ban to Saudi Arabia.
Bong Concha, president of OFWs Kaagapay, said the deployment ban has already affected the families of workers who have pending jobs in Saudi Arabia.
"We are appealing to the good secretary to hear the voices of our OFWs who want to work abroad, especially in Saudi Arabia because they want to help their family. If the reason for Sec Bello is to protect our OFWs, against their employers abuse then we have to make concrete policy in connection to protect the OFWs," Concha said.
For his part, AkoOFWs Chairman Chie Umandap, said that while they understand the arguments raised by DOLE Sec. Silvestro Bello III, the deployment ban has already affected some 6,000 OFWs.
The deployment ban was triggered by the unpaid salaries of some employers in Saudi Arabia, according to Umandap.
"We know that this move affected five to six thousand OFWs already waiting to fly to Saudi. This already affected their respective families," said Umandap.