39 distressed OFWs from Bahrain arrive home

Thirty-nine overseas Filipino workers (OFW) from Bahrain were repatriated this week after suffering various kinds of distressful working and living conditions, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

The workers arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport morning on Monday, according to a release posted on the DFA website.

“Most of them left their employers due to reduced, delayed or nonpayment of salaries; long working hours; heavy workload; inadequate food provision; and physical and verbal abuse, among others," the DFA said.

The release stated that the workers were accompanied by Philippine Ambassador to Bahrain Corazon Yap-Bajin, and were met by representatives of the DFA’s Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).

The workers were sheltered at the Filipino Workers' Resource Center in Manama while awaiting the resolution of their various labor, immigration, police and court cases, it added.

“The mass repatriation project was made possible on the strong representations made by the Embassy with the Bahraini government to waive the deployment cost, a usual condition set by the employers before allowing the departure of their workers," the DFA said.

The department also said the payment of airfare and visa cancellations for the OFWs was sourced from DFA and OWWA funds.

“The DFA constantly coordinates with its Embassies and Consulates-General around the world to facilitate the repatriation of distressed Filipinos," the release further noted.

Last week, at least 32 OFWs who were found to be overstaying in Bahrain were likewise repatriated after availing of an “easy exit" scheme offered by the Bahrain Labor Market Regulatory Authority. (See: Repatriated OFWs from KSA, Bahrain arrive home)

Some 800 OFWs are meanwhile still stranded in Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, but OWWA vowed to send all of them home under the government’s accelerated repatriation program. (See: Some 800 Filipinos still stranded in Jeddah — OWWA) —Jerrie M. Abella/JV, GMANews.TV

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