Arribas said Philippines officials and the Saudi labour ministry are coordinating “to implement the general provisions of the directive from the King”.
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The decision was adopted on Wednesday in Riyadh, where the Foreign Minister of Venezuela, Delcy Rodriguez, met with her counterpart from Saudi Arabia, Adel Al-Jubeir.
The Indian government had requested the Saudi authorities to give the unemployed Indian workers exit visas without NoC (No-Objection Certificate) from employers and also urged it to clear the dues of workers who have not been paid for months, whenever they settle the accounts with the companies concerned.
“We have 10 million foreign workers not complaining and we have only 30,000 in one company, this should not be generalised”, said Mufarej Al-Haqbani, Saudi Labour Minister.
Mr Swarup said VK Singh will try to reach out to Saudi authorities to seek cooperation in helping the distressed Indians.
In a press conference, Department of Foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose said the employers had no more capacity to pay the OFWs’ back wages, allowances and benefits, resulting to a massive retrenchment.
Sources in March told AFP that delayed receipts from the government, whose oil revenues have dropped significantly over the past two years, left employees of the kingdom’s construction giants struggling while they wait for salaries.
“Saudi Oger – now we’ll take it to the courts”.
In recognition of the great contribution of overseas Filipino workers to their economy, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has shouldered the expenses of OFWs who were laid off and stranded in the oil-rich country.
Lawyers hired by the Saudi government will handle claims for delayed salaries, even if workers leave the country.
“This is a small segment…of the labor market”.
King Salman Bin Abudulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia has ordered the release of 100 million Saudi Riyals (roughly P1.27 billion) as assistance to all stranded migrant workers in the Kingdom, including overseas Filipino workers.
At the camp, Mohammed Niaz, 42, said his two daughters back in Pakistan had stopped attending school because he could no longer send money home for fees. I want to go Pakistan.
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Abandoned in Saudi desert camps, migrant workers won’t leave without pay was posted in World of TheNews International – https://www.thenews.com.pk on August 19, 2016 and was last updated on August 19, 2016.
