Press Release No. BAG-002 / 04

Embassy of the Philippines - Riyadh
05 January 2004

Embassy urges 2 OFWs
to sign settlement with employer

The Philippine Embassy has urged two overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to sign a final settlement with their employer so that they can leave the Kingdom at the earliest time possible as they have requested.

In a report to Ambassador Bahnarim A. Guinomla, Labor Attache Alberto S. Abalayan said that Abdul Aziz Al Khalifa , employer of Danny Morales and Jesulito Merginio, has agreed to have them repatriated at his expense.

But the two, Abalayan said, have to sign a final settlement and cooperate with the Embassy to speed up their repatriation.

Both Morales and Merginio have complained of alleged long hours of work, no rest day, poor accommodation, no iqama, and no driving license. Both are reported to have completed their respective two-year contracts.

Mr. Abalayan also reported that a third OFW, Jaime dela Paz, has to settle a cash advance amounting to SR 2,500.00 and pay for his ticket so he can also return to the Philippines.

Mr. dela Paz complained of alleged unjust termination of his services and unpaid salaries for four (4) months.

On the other hand, his employer Qaseem Zaidan Fajad, claimed that he did not terminate the contract of Mr. dela Paz but that he allegedly refused to work anymore and escaped with a cash advance of SR 2,500.00.

The Embassy has likewise urged Mr. dela Paz to cooperate with his case officer at the Embassy so that he can be repatriated to the Philippines.

The three OFWs were members of a group that staged a sit-in at the Chancery lobby last month.

Ambassador Guinomla has reiterated his earlier instructions to his staff to extend assistance to the members of the group.