MANILA, Philippines — The country’s labor attaché in Riyadh has asked Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III to suspend the deployment of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to Saudi Arabia over the refusal of an influential retired official to release two Filipina domestic workers distressed in his employ. Labor attaché to Riyadh Fidel Macauyag recommended a temporary suspension of deployment after retired Saudi Gen. Ayed Thawah Al Jeaid refused to turn over the OFWs on Sept. 27. The Philippine Overseas Labor Office (Polo) in Riyadh said the 16 OFWs who entered the general’s mansion as domestic workers over the past three years suffered constant beatings, various forms of abuse and unpaid salaries. Of the eight OFWs in the general’s employ this year, five were repatriated on Sept. 2 while another was brought to the Polo shelter this week. Ople said they hired a lawyer to handle the case of the OFWs as well as coordinate with the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh to look into the case.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer September 29, 2021 20:37 UTC