BANGKOK, Thailand —Saudi Arabia crown prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud has announced that the Saudi government will pay around P30-billion unpaid salaries of 10,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who worked for construction firms that declared bankruptcy in 2015 and 2016.
Department of Migrant Workers Secretary Susan Ople disclosed this on Friday, Nov. 18, after the bilateral meeting of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. with the Saudi Arabian leader on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit here.
"The Crown Prince, His Royal Highness, announced and said that this was his gift – he really prepared for this and this was an agreement reached by the Saudi government just a few days ago," Ople said.
"So they have set aside two billion Riyals to help our displaced workers. So this is really good news and we thank po Saudi Arabia," Ople added.
The "gift" will cover the affected OFWs who worked in construction companies namely: Saudi OGer, MMG, the Bin Laden group, and other construction companies that have not yet paid Filipino workers back.
“Napakagandang balita talaga. At pinaghandaan talaga tayo ni Crown Prince. Kaya’t sabi niya ‘yung desisyon na ‘yan ay nangyari lamang noong nakaraang ilang araw at dahil nga magkikita kami at sabi niya ito ‘yung regalo ko para sa inyo (That's really good news. The Crown Prince really prepared for it. He said the decision was made only a few days ago and because we will meet, he said this will be his gift for you),” Marcos said.
The President said Saudi Arabia's Labor minister also made an assurance that this will not happen again to Filipino workers going to the kingdom.
He also disclosed that as a safeguard to OFWs, an insurance system for the workers will also be set up.
“Sila mismo magbibigay ng insurance kung sakali man mangyari ulit ‘yan na malugi yung korporasyon na tinatrabahuhan nila at hindi nila makuha ang kanilang sahod, yung insurance ang magbabayad (They will be the ones providing the insurance in case this happens again where corporations went bankrupt resulting to unpaid salaries of OFWs. The insurance will pay for it," the President said.
Meanwhile, other issues and matters discussed during the two leaders' bilateral meeting are yet to be disclosed.