A group of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) urged President Bongbong Marcos, Jr. to resolve their years-long wage claims from a Saudi Arabia-based construction company.

The group, which represents 8,830 Filipino workers of Saudi Oger, is hoping that the Marcos administration will finally settle the issue through Department of Migrant Workers Secretary Susan Ople who is currently in Riyadh on a bilateral negotiation with the Saudi officials.

The group furnished Manila Bulletin with a copy of the appeal in which names at the bottom of the letter said they are Saudi Oger claimants representing the 8,836 workers, namely: Allan Dale Del Rosario; Edwin Caling; Joseph Paz; Anafe Fallar Faner; and Arcelie Baguio.

“Just like we did in the last administration, we reiterate our appeal to your good office to finally put an end to our years of struggle and fulfill the commitment of the previous administration, to pay us in advance and go after the Saudi Oger Executives (Liquidators) as we have already won our case against the company as per the verdict of Saudi DOJ,” the letter read.

It also said in the letter that a copy of the Saudi Court Decision gave them a victory was already with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

The 8,830 OFW claimants were among the thousands of workers displaced due to the economic recession in Saudi Arabia in 2015. The Saud Oger Ltd. which was once known as a construction giant was severely affected forcing it to declare bankruptcy.

Some 8,830 OFWs working in the company were left with months of unpaid salary as well as their end-of-service benefits that is amounting to P4.6 billion, based on their computations.

In 2016, delegates from the Philippine government headed by Labor Secretary Sylvestre Bello III instigated the repatriation of the displaced workers following reports that some of them were scavenging and picking something to eat from the garbage due to severe starvation.

DOLE promised to negotiate with their claims but it is yet to be resolved until now.

“They (Philippine Gov’t) came and asked us to go home with their promises to make a ‘paluwal’ (advance payment) of all of our dues, they have convinced us to be repatriated, then ensues the exodus on the last quarter of that year without a single centavo on our pocket, we went home back,” the claimants expounded.

“Our Beloved President please hear our plea, help us get our hard-earned salary and end-of-service, which is so long overdue,” the letter read.