LABOR Secretary Silvestre Bello on Monday, September 5, said he is now close to achieve his promise to President Rodrigo Duterte to bring back 1,000 Filipino migrant workers from Saudi Arabia in the Philippines before September 9.
Bello during the Kapehan sa Dabaw weekly media forum held at SM Ecoland on Monday said that another 169 migrant workers from Alcobar Saudi Arabia arrived yesterday.
“Maybe in two days, another batch will arrive so that I will be able to comply with my commitment to our President that before the Hadjj which is in September 9, we will be bringing in at least 1,000 migrant workers," he said.
Before the end of September, Bello said they will be bringing in another 1,000 overseas workers.
He said that 169 workers will be added to the 228 workers who arrived last week and were welcomed by the President.
Bello added that these migrant workers initially wanted to come home because they were not paid well, and are experiencing hard living conditions in Saudi Arabia.
But with the help of King of Saudi Arabia, King Salam who ordered that all companies should pay the 7-9 months salaries, including their separation pay, these migrant workers have successfully gone home.
"Ang overseas workers natin, siguro mag-uuwi ng pera niyan na not less than P1 million,” Bello said.
He said the return of migrant workers is in line with the wish of the President but this is without prejudice to those who wanted to stay.
He said that apart from payment of salaries and separation of end services, the Filipino migrants are also offered new jobs as the King of Saudi wished that not all migrant workers should be sent home as they are highly in demand.
Bello added that their office have initially documented 11,000 OFWs who wanted to go home and this number will has reduced to 8,000 in this might still go down as aside from return of some migrants and as some decided to accept new jobs being offered to them, still with the help of the King’s pronouncement.
Bello said that 4,500 job openings are now open due to the order of the King of the Saudi.