PRESS RELEASE No. 51 - 2018
(8 August 2018)
PHILIPPINE CONSULATE, POLO (LABOR OFFICE) IN JEDDAH ENDORSE FIRST BATCH OF FEMALE OFWs FROM BAHAY KALINGA TO SAUDI SOCIAL WELFARE AGENCY (SSWA)-JEDDAH BRANCH FACILITY
8 August 2018 - The Philippine Consulate and Philippine Labor Office (POLO) in Jeddah today endorsed the first batch of female OFWs from the Bahay Kalinga to the SSWA - Jeddah Branch facility. There were 20 OFWs in the batch.
The transfer of the first batch of female OFWs from the Bahay Kalinga to the said facility is part of enhanced bilateral cooperation between the Saudi Government through SSWA and foreign missions in the Kingdom, including the Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah, to facilitate the repatriation of foreign migrant workers who have encountered labor problems while in the Kingdom.
The 20 females OFWs will be housed, free of charge, at the SSWA facility in Jeddah while their labor concerns are being addressed with the help of the agency and other relevant Saudi government offices, including Immigration and the Ministry of Labor, until their eventual repatriation.
According to Mr. Bandar Hazan Al-Zahrani, General Manager of SSWA-Jeddah Branch, the 20 female OFWs are the very first batch of foreign migrant workers to be admitted at the facility. He added that while they are at the SSWA facility until their eventual repatriation, the OFWs will be provided with food, toiletries, and supplies for personal hygiene free of charge. He likewise mentioned that "later on, the OFWs will also be allowed to make free telephone calls to their next-of-kin in the Philippines."
Philippine Labor and Welfare officials will regularly visit the OFWs at the SSWA facility to check on their condition and provide necessary assistance to SSWA to facilitate their repatriation.
Philippine consular and labor officials as well as the Philippine Social Welfare Attache were given a tour of the facility. It was observed that the facility is clean, well-ventilated, and equipped with comfortable beds, clean toilets, spacious locker rooms, laundry areas, and equally clean and spacious dining areas. END
Consul General Edgar Badajos (right) exchanges views with Mr. Bandar Hazan Al Zahrani, General Manager of the Saudi Social Welfare Agency (SSWA)-Jeddah Branch facility
Consul General Badajos thanks the SSWA-Jeddah Branch facility officials before the first batch of female OFWs who were endorsed by the Philippine Consulate and POLO-Jeddah from the Bahay Kalinga to the facility
Consul General Badajos and Labor Attache Nasser Mundir take a look at one of the sleeping quarters inside the SSWA-Jeddah Branch facility
