MANILA, Aug. 30 (PNA) -– In an effort to help undocumented overseas Filipino workers (OFW) Saudi Arabia to rectify their status, the Department of Labor and Employment, through Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) will facilitate another job fair in Jeddah soon.
Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz disclosed this Thursday, citing a report from POLO Jeddah Labor Attache Alejandro Padaen.
“Because of the success of the two job fairs, we are planning to hold another one after Ramadan and we will invite more companies who need more semi-skilled workers since most of the job fair applicants fall under this category,” Padaen reported.
Baldoz said according to Padaen, close to 400 undocumented OFWs attended the second job fair of the POLO.
“From nine participating companies during the first job fair held just ten days before the second one, 16 companies have signified their interest in employing Filipino workers,” Padaen stressed.
Baldoz said the job fair is part of the efforts of the DOLE to help undocumented overseas Filipino workers (OFW) improve their employment and correct their residency status in the said Middle Eastern country.
“We know for a fact that most of these undocumented OFWs are not yet ready to come home because they need to earn in order to support their families here in the Philippines,” she said.
The DOLE chief explained that “for illegally-staying OFWs, finding a job with an employer who can sponsor them is one way to correct their stay in the Kingdom.”
Meanwhile, Baldoz also disclosed that as of 7 August, 116 Filipinos were still camping out in the vacant lot beside the Philippine Consulate General building.
Padaen reported that the “campers” consist of 58 males, 50 females, and 8 children. Another 67 undocumented Filipino women and their 16 children are currently staying at the fourth and ground floors of the PCG building.
The PCG, according to Labatt Padaen, is attending to the needs of these undocumented OFWs.
“During his visit, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario instructed the PCG to immediately rent a building to relocate these people,” Padaen added in his report.
To address this, Padaen reported to Secretary Baldoz that POLO-Jeddah has already endorsed an additional 170 travel documents to the Jawazat, or Passport Department, for exit visa issuance.
“We are continuously assisting undocumented OFWs who wish to come to the country for fingerprinting and visa processing,” Baldoz assured. (PNA)
DSP/JOSINE F. ESTUYE/UTB