A total of 95 distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from Saudi Arabia will be transported back to the country as part of the government’s repatriation program, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said on Saturday, Oct. 21.
DMW officer-in-charge Undersecretary Hans Leo Cacdac said the 95 OFWs, along with three children, are expected to arrive at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 (NAIA-3) at 1:15 on Saturday.
“Our Migrant Workers Office in Riyadh (MWO-Riyadh) arranged for the flight of the distressed OFWs. Prior to leaving Saudi Arabia the returning workers were given US$200 each as initial monetary support drawn from the department’s AKSYON Fund,” said Cacdac.
The AKSYON (Agarang Kalinga at Saklolo para sa mga OFWs na Nangangailangan) Fund is sourced from the General Appropriations Act for the distressed OFWs around the world.
The fund was set aside amid incidents of labor-related problems that include abuses committed by employers that force OFWs either to escape or be rescued.
Cacdac said that upon arrive, the OFWs will be assisted by the OWWA’s (Overseas Workers Welfare Administration) Repatriation Assistance Division.
They will be receiving a support package of benefits that includes financial assistance from the DMW and OWWA, medical check-up and referral services, as well as psychosocial evaluation and assessment.
“OWWA will provide transit services for the OFWs to their respective homes in Metro Manila or nearby provinces as well as overnight hotel accommodations for those who have flights the next day,” said Cadac.