The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) in the Philippines has announced that the Saudi Arabian government has initiated contact with some overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who have been pursuing claims for unpaid wages. Undersecretary Hans Cacdac of the DMW disclosed that certain claimants have been informed about receiving their payments through checks.
Despite this development, the DMW is cautiously managing expectations. “We’re keeping close watch on Saudi claimants who have been receiving communication from the Saudi side and have been informed that the sums of money will supposedly be released,” Cacdac stated. He emphasized the department’s role in assisting with the encashment of the checks, but also mentioned that expectations are being kept modest at this stage.
However, it was noted that not all claimants have received communication from the Saudi authorities. This issue, among others, will likely be a topic during Cacdac’s upcoming visit to Saudi Arabia in January, where he plans to follow up on these claims.
In a previous interview with CNN Philippines, Cacdac had mentioned, “Definitely the Saudi side had already spoken and said that the funds are indeed already there and it takes the mechanics of distribution to set the funds in motion.” This statement suggests that while the funds are available, the process of distribution is still being worked out.