05 August 2016 – DFA officials will lead an inter-agency Assistance to Nationals team, composed of officials and technical staff from DFA, DOLE, DSWD, DOH and TESDA, that will be sent to Saudi Arabia from August 10, 2016 to provide immediate humanitarian, legal and other consular assistance to the OFWs stranded in workcamps across Saudi Arabia, especially those without food and in dire need of medical care and other support services. A high level delegation of senior Philippine government officials will also be sent soonest to negotiate immediate and long-term solutions with counterparts in the Saudi government.

This comes after the Secretary of Foreign Affairs Perfecto R. Yasay, Jr. and DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello III met with the Saudi Ambassador to Manila Dr. Abdullah Bin Nasser Al Bussairy last August 3, 2016, to facilitate cooperation in resolving the plight of OFWs in financially troubled companies in Saudi Arabia. The Saudi Ambassador assured the Philippine government that the Saudi government will exert all efforts to assist the affected OFWs.

Meanwhile, the DFA also continues to facilitate the immediate repatriation of OFWs who want to go home. And the DFA also provides legal assistance for OFWs to pursue their monetary claims against their companies even after their repatriation. END