38 OFWs from Saudi Arabia return home

Thirty-eight overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from Saudi Arabia returned safely to the Philippines on Friday night, November 6, aboard Qatar Airways Flight QR 928, which landed at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 in Pasay City.

The returning workers were assisted by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), in coordination with the medical team of the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA). They were provided with financial assistance, meals, temporary accommodation, and transportation to reunite with their families.

The repatriation is part of the “Saving Lives” component of the government's UPLIFT initiative, pursuant to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s directive to ensure the safety and welfare of OFWs and their families affected by tensions in the Middle East. The DMW and OWWA will continue providing repatriation assistance until 11 November, with around 290 more OFWs expected to return in the coming days.

Meanwhile, the DMW has partnered with the Public Services Labor Independent Confederation and Public Services International (PSLINK-PSI) to strengthen OFW protection and address the concerns of Filipino migrant workers. The agreement covers initiatives to promote ethical recruitment, prevent illegal recruitment and human trafficking, and raise awareness of workers' rights through information campaigns, monitoring, and orientation programs.

Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac underscored the importance of listening to workers and tapping the experience of labor organizations to address the challenges faced by Filipino migrant workers. PSLINK President Annie Enriquez-Geron also committed to leveraging the group's trade union experience and international network to improve OFW protection, access to justice, and representation in policies affecting their lives and livelihoods.