Saudi OFWs' unpaid wages being processed, Marcos says

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said that the settlement of unpaid wages of more than 10,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Saudi Arabia following the bankruptcy of their companies is already being processed.

In an interview with reporters on the sidelines of the ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit in Riyadh, Marcos said this is what the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia assured him, adding that the Saudi government is currently processing the back wages of the affected OFWs as well as other details.

“Napo-process na ngayon ‘yun,” Marcos said.

(That is being processed now.)

“We are already coming to the point na ‘yung detalye na lang ang pinag-uusapan. ‘Yung listahan ng mga claimant ay nalinis na, maayos na. And we are just waiting for the details to be worked out between the Saudi side,” he continued.

(We are already coming to the point where it's only the details that are being discussed. The list of claimants has been cleaned up and is in order.)

Marcos however said that no further details may be disclosed regarding the settlement issues.

“But in concept, in principle, itutuloy talaga nila ‘yung pagbayad doon sa insurance claims ng mga nagtatrabaho sa mga negosyo na nalugi noong nagsara noong COVID. So, that will continue to go. Matatapos natin ‘yan,” he said.

(But in concept, in principle, they will continue to pay the insurance claims of workers whose businesses got bankrupt and closed during COVID. So, that will continue to go. This will be settled.)

“I cannot say (when) because it also depends on the internal processes in Saudi Arabia. But, again, I know for a fact that they will be paid. It’s just a question of when,” Marcos added.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in November 2022 committed to allocate some 2 billion riyals for the unpaid salaries of some 10,000 overseas Filipinos employed by construction companies that declared bankruptcy.

Marcos received the "good news" during their bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Bangkok.

The crown prince is also Saudi Arabia's prime minister. —KG, GMA Integrated News