OWWA issues guidelines and procedures regarding financial problems of OFWs in Saudi Arabia

MANILA—Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who are affected by forced unemployment/income displacement in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) due to serious financial problems faced by their employers are entitled to receive financial assistance, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) said.

According to the OWWA, the Relief Assistance Program (RAP) will be provided to affected OFWs in KSA and their families to cushion the impact of the crisis.

It said that the program is a one-time grant of financial assistance in the following amounts:

PHP20,000 to be paid in Saudi Riyals (One Thousand Five Hundred Ninety (SR 1,590) to each affected OFW still at job site;

PHP20,000 to each affected OFW repatriated to the Philippines; and

PHP6,000 to each family of affected OFW who is still at job site.

The OWWA said that those who are covered by the one-time grant is exclusively for affected Filipino workers who are either staying in camps or are live-out in KSA or who have been repatriated to the Philippines but have not received their salaries or end-of-service benefits from any of the companies.

The firms are as follows: Mohammed al-Mojil Group (MMG); Saudi Bin Laden Group of Companies (SBG); Saudi Oger Ltd. (SOL); Mohammad Hameed Al-Bargash & Bros. Trading & Construction Co.; Aluminum Company (ALUMCO L.L.C.); Rajeh H. Al Merri Contracting & Trading Company; Fawzi Salah-Al Nairani Contracting Company; Arabtec Construction L.L.C. and Real Estate Development and Investment Company.

To avail of the financial assistance, the affected Filipino workers will be asked to submit the following documentary requirements:

For affected OFWs at the job site:

Accomplished Application Form; and,

Proof of identity (passport, iqama, payslip; employment contract, or similar document that establishes the worker’s identity).

For repatriated workers:

Accomplished Application Form;

Passport or travel document; and,

Proof of unpaid salaries/benefits (i.e. SPA in favor of Philippine Embassy/Consulate official; employer certification, complaint filed in appropriate office, etc. )

For families of affected OFWs still at the job site:

Accomplished Application Form;

Proof of relationship to OFW:

Photocopy of Birth Certificate of the OFW, if the OFW is single; or Photocopy of Marriage Certificate, if the OFW is married; and,

One valid government-issued ID with picture

The OWWA said that the Philippine Embassy/Consulate/Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) shall provide the list of affected workers which shall form part of the Program database.

The worker’s inclusion in the database shall be a prerequisite for the release of financial assistance. In addition, the list of names of repatriated workers and qualified families shall form part of the database.

POLO and Regional Welfare Offices (RWOs) shall regularly update the list of beneficiaries.

For further inquiries, the OFWs may visit the OWWA website, www.owwa.gov.ph.