As the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) remains silent on the issues discussed with the Saudi Ministry of Labor, comments and inquiries have started flooding the department's the social media account to appeal to end the deployment ban of Filipino migrants to work in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).
Queries addressed to DMW Secretary Susan Ople have flooded the comment section of the DMW post on the ongoing bilateral talks of the Philippine panel and the Minister for International Affairs of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD).
A certain Jomari Masaya said in her comment: “Marami po kaming umaasa na malift ang ban secretary mam Ople pra nman mkapagtrabaho nrin kc hirap na hirap na ang mga pamilya nmin dto sa pilipinas. {Many of us are hoping that Secretary Ople's ban will be lifted so that we can already work. Our families here in the Philippines are having a hard time."
Thess Laxamana, meanwhile, hopes that the agreement between the Philippines government and the Saudi government will prosper and will benefit in favor of the OFWs and their families.
Clint Ogas says “Hope there is any advice for the lifting of the suspension of sending OFW back to KSA? Approval of new job orders should commence at the earliest...”
Another commenter, Nenzie Samsacab asked: “Any development for their conversations Department of Migrant Workers?”
Meanwhile, a group of former Saudi laborers which has beenlobbying for their unpaid salary way back in 2016, wrote the Manila Bulletin to address their concerns.
A certain Allan Dale Del Rosario who identified himself as the representative of the 8,830 claimants of Saudi Oger Co. Ltd. asks Ople to act on their long overdue battle to claim their unpaid wages from a Saudi construction firm since 2016.
“They say that we are protected by both Philippines and Saudi Labor Laws against these abuses, yet after 6 years our cries had fallen on deaf ears,” Del Rosario said in his message sent to Manila Bulletin.
Del Rosario said they met with DMW Sec. Susan Ople in August 2022 to tackle their appeal but it was still left unattended.
On Thursday last week, Sept. 8, DWM Secretary Susan Ople met Adnan Abdullah Alnuaim, Deputy Minister for International Affairs of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD) to start the bilateral talks with Saudi officials.
The DMW is opted not to release details on the ongoing mutual assessment of conditions as the department also call-off the scheduled Zoom meeting on Saturday to update the media on the latest development of the dialog.
Monday morning, Sept. 12, the DMW media bureau released a complex statement sharing short-detailed information about the bilateral meeting saying: “Migrant Workers Secretary Susan Ople pushes for a rights-based approach to the deployment, hiring, and treatment of Filipino migrant workers in Saudi Arabia at the start of bilateral discussions with the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development last Saturday.”
In aid of comprehensive reporting, Manila Bulletin asked the bureau for further details, but they opted not to answer but replied later to wait for the discrete details as they are coming up for a full media statement. However, no press statement has been issued as of press time.