The ongoing talks between the Philippine Government and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) on the claims of unpaid wages and other benefits due to around 10,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are now in its final stages, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) disclosed on Friday, April 14.

(Screenshot taken from DMW's Facebook page)

Migrant Workers Secretary Susan Ople thanked the Saudi government for the "substantial and decisive headway" to help the OFWs who lost their jobs after several Arab construction companies declared bankruptcy in 2016.

“We thank most of all Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman for his compassionate and generous leadership," Ople expressed.

According to Ople, the development only affirms the Crown Prince's "concern for the Filipino people because now, his government is moving in a clear and decisive direction on how these long-standing claims can be finally resolved."

“Thank God, we are now at the final stages of closing this most trying issue that has dragged on for years,” she went on.

The DMW official shared that the KSA Government, through the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD) and in close coordination with the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh, has requested them to submit a list of claimants for approval by a special committee created by the Saudi Government.

Such a request was conveyed recently in an ad hoc group meeting "explicitly created to fast-track the processing of the claims", it was noted. The ad hoc group comprises representatives from the claims committee of the MHRSD and representatives of the Philippine Embassy and the Migrant Workers Offices of the DMW.

In a meeting held in November 2022 in the margins of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit held in Bangkok, Thailand, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia informed President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. that his government would provide the funds to enable the aggrieved OFWs to claim the back wages and other benefits due them that should have been paid for by their private employers.

“The ball is now in our court, and so the DMW appeals to all legitimate claimants to please get in touch with us by sending an e-mail to: [email protected],” Ople stated, adding that the email should contain the contact details of the worker and his or her record of employment in Saudi Arabia.

To note, the DMW has created a dedicated team to respond to e-mails and help workers submit clear and accurate information to validate their claims.

Meanwhile, it was also revealed that through a letter signed by MHRSD Minister Ahmad bin Sulaiman Al-Rajhi, the Saudi government formally invited the DMW Secretary to visit the Kingdom on May 24 for a bilateral meeting on labor concerns, including the workers’ unpaid claims.

Before that date, the DMW will send an advance party led by Undersecretary Bernard Olalia to discuss the contents of the joint labor agreement and mechanisms for the payment of the claims.

“We have accepted the warm invitation sent by the Saudi government through the MHRSD and look forward to a very successful and productive visit,” Ople said.