KSA Gives Exit Clearance to 21 Stranded OFWs
RIYADH: Only 21 of the 130 stranded male Filipino workers, who have been provided shelter at a villa in Riyadh, will be repatriated soon as they have got exit clearance, a migrant rights’ advocacy group has said.
The source was quoted as saying by Arab New that exit visas have been issued to 50 of the 100 plus stranded female workers at the Riyadh deportation center as confirmed by the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) at the Philippine Embassy.
The Saudi Arabia-based newspaper has already highlighted the plight of the Filipinos who have been staying in a rented rest house for nearly two years. Some of them have suffered stroke and injuries while on duty, the report said.
Migranti Middle East regional coordinator John Monterona reportedly said the stranded male workers were brought to the office of the General Directorate weeks ago for passport and expatriate affairs office or Jawazat for finger printing.
This is part of the mandatory biometric data required for the issuance of exit visa, he added.
He was quoted as saying that his group would continue to monitor the repatriation of the stranded workers, especially those at Bahay Kalinga, Exit 8 male shelter, and also at the women’s deportation center in Riyadh.
Labor attaché Rustico de la Fuente reportedly said the embassy will provide tickets to those workers. “We do not ask stranded workers to pay for their tickets,” de la Fuente was quoted as saying by Arab News.