Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 2) — The country is still studying the possible deployment ban on Saudi Arabia despite its commitment to settle the ₱4.6 billion unpaid wages and benefits of overseas Filipino workers, an official said Tuesday.
Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Administrator Hans Cacdac said they will await the outcome of further talks before making a recommendation on the matter.
“Ang serye pa ng mga pagpupulong o paguusap between the Philippine and Saudi side ay mahalaga dito. Malalaman natin ang full commitment talaga ng Saudi side,” Cacdac said in a government briefing.
[Translation: The series of dialogues between the Philippine and Saudi sides is important here. We will know the full commitment of the Saudi side.]
Cacdac made the remark after Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said the Saudi government is expected to pay the claims of thousands of displaced OFWs. He added the payments will be made during the visit of the Saudi labor minister Ahmed al-Rajhi in December.
Bello earlier ordered OWWA and the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) to look into the possibility of a deployment ban after the Saudi government failed to facilitate the release of the payments for unpaid claims, despite a court decision ruling in favor of the OFWs in 2016.
“Patuloy ang aming paguusap ni [POEA] Administrator Bernard [Olalia] para makapagbigay kami ng rekomendasyon kay Secretary Bello,” Cacdac said.
[Translation: Administrator Bernard and I continue to discuss this so we can make a recommendation to Secretary Bello.]
