More stranded Filipinos seek help in Jeddah, KSA

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia - Just a few days after 91 stranded Filipinos were repatriated from Saudi Arabia, almost 150 more workers have sought assistance from the Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah to be sent home. According to Consul Leo Tito Ausan, the “distressed" Filipinos came to the consulate on October 4. He said the number was in addition to the 30 who came in earlier. Just like the 91 who were repatriated on Oct. 4, the workers - overstayers and runaways - stayed at the consulate compound for a night and were transferred to the Haj seaport terminal the next day. Many of the workers are among the hundreds of overseas Filipino worker (OFW) who have escaped from their employers due to undesirable working conditions like the non-payment of salary, lack of basic provisions, and physical abuse and even sexual abuse. Rodolfo Campo, one of those who sought help at the consulate, said he ran away from his employer three years ago because of the delayed payment of his salary. The 60-year-old OFW has worked as a painter and decorator in 24 different companies. “Our salaries were always delayed by three months. They would pay us only when we complain our to the (Philippine) embassy that’s the only time they pay us. They will give us one month salary then after that they forget us again so I escaped and worked for another company so I can support my family," he said. Just like the previous batches that were repatriated with the help of the consulate general, most of those who belong to the latest batch came from Riyadh and the eastern region of the kingdom. Due to the absence of a repatriation mechanism for a big number of overstayers or runaway workers in Riyadh, where embassies are located, the “distressed" workers flock to Jeddah, which has a more lenient policy on overstayers. To attract the attention of immigration officials in Jeddah, the runaway workers usually camp out under the Khandara overpass together with other nationals such as Indians, Pakistanis, and Bangladeshis. Jeddah officials, however, have of late been ignoring the Khandara dwellers in an attempt to discourage the practice. In their desperation, the stranded OFWs then move to the Philippine Consulate General, which in turn run to the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs for help. The Saudi government repatriate the stranded workers in the end, but immigration officials try to prolong the process and many of the overstayers or runaways have to suffer overcrowding in the deportation area. “I’m tired and I want to go home, please help us," said Campo, who added that he would have wanted a splendid final exit from Saudi Arabia. Seventy-one-year-old Eduardo Dasalla, a barber who started working in Riyadh since 1987, echoed this sentiment. “I (celebrated) my 71st birthday here in the safe house. But I (hoped) to celebrate it in the Philippines with my family I’m old and really wanted to go home," he said. Dasalla said he ran away in 2002 because he was threatened by his employer that he will be thrown to jail for stealing. But instead of going home, he just transferred to another company in order to support his family. He hasn’t returned home in 17 years. “I do not know why they are accusing me of something I did not do and for that reason I don’t have any choice but to escape" he said. Thankful Nonetheless, Dasalla said he was grateful to the consulate for providing them with “comfortable" shelter and food. Community organizations also continue to help provide food and amenities to the stranded workers. “This is what we need to stop our distressed OFWs from converging under the bridge in Khandara. Continuous assistance by our government like what they did now will boost the morale of our fellow OFWs," said Jauhari Usman, president of the group Ating Gabay OFW. Filipino community leader Atoy Esguerra likewise welcomed the actions done by the consulate, calling them “very timely." Consulate officials promised to continue to exert the same effort that they accorded to those previously repatriated. “For as long as they keep coming we shall be here to help them," said Ausan. Labor Secretary Marianito Roque has also said that the Philippine government might continue the procedure of providing shelter to stranded Filipinos waiting for deportation. “If that would lessen the burden of our distressed workers, then we might continue with the procedure," he said. ’Before running away…’ But Ausan advised OFWs not to run away immediately if they are having problems with their employers, saying that escape is not the solution. Instead, he said they should file a case before the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in the consulate in Jeddah or at the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh or its extension in Alkhobar. Saudi Arabia remains the biggest destination of Filipino overseas workers and also has the biggest number of OFWs running away from their employers The number of stranded workers who have been repatriated is in addition to those mostly abused or exploited domestic helpers who are sent home after seeking shelter at the Philippine posts. Last September when President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was in Saudi Arabia on the invitation of King Abdullah, she came back to the Philippines brought home with 120 stranded Filipino workers. The biggest single repatriation was in mid-2007 when the Saudi government shouldered the one-way Jeddah-Manila plane tickets of 925 OFWs and their dependents upon the representation of the consulate general. - GMANews.TV