Gov’t to repatriate OFWs ‘scavenging’ for food in KSA

FILE: Repatriated OFWs on June 10, 2020 (Photo: adnanalonto/Twitter)

MANILA – The Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Riyadh is in talks with the employer of Filipino workers in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) who reportedly resorted to “scavenging” for food from the garbage.

“Patuloy pong nakikipag-ugnayan ang POLO sa Team Time Company at sa Saudi Ministry of Human Resource and Social Development upang maisakatuparan ang pagpapauwi ng mga nasabing manggagawa (POLO is coordinating with the Team Time Company and the Saudi Ministry of Human Resource and Social Development to bring home our workers),” the Philippine Embassy in Saudi Arabia said in a statement on June 19.

The embassy said POLO has also provided food assistance to the displaced workers.

In a previous tweet, Philippine Ambassador Adnan Alonto noted that the embassy is continuously working with relevant offices to repatriate the nationals as soon as possible.

“Repatriation is the goal. Well, exit visas need to be granted and more flights (are) needed. That’s the truth. We are on it,” he said.

In a video circulating online, several Filipino workers are seen scouring trash for food to survive after being displaced due to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

Another clip also surfaced online, featuring a different group picking garbage and food after their contract was terminated during the health crisis.