Marcos says Saudi OFWs affected by bankruptcy start receiving compensation

President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. on Tuesday disclosed that the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) displaced by the bankruptcies of Saudi Arabian construction companies have started receiving their compensation.

In a video message, Marcos said, ''Nais ko lang balitaan ang ating mga OFW na galing sa Saudi na patuloy na ang pagbayad ng insurance ng Saudi Arabia sa mga empleyado ng mga kumpanyang nabangkarote, nagfile ng claim sa insurance.''

(I would just like to inform the affected OFWs that Saudi Arabia is now paying the employees of the bankrupt companies who filed for insurance claim.)

Marcos said a total of 1,104 indemnity cheques from Alinma Bank amounting to P868,740,544 have been processed by the Overseas Filipino Bank and Land Bank. Of the number, 843 have been cleared and credited to OFWs.

“Ang halaga ng mga na-release na tseke is P868,740,544; 1,014 ang na-clear na at credited, 'yung 843 doon, nabayaran na,” he said. 

(They have released cheques amounting to P868,740,544; 1,014 have been cleared and credited, 843 have been paid.)

At the sidelines of the ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit in Riyadh last year, Marcos said the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia assured him on the settlement of unpaid wages.

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