SAUDI Arabia arrested more than two dozen Filipino workers as it continues to crack down on illegal migrants, the Migrante Middle East reported.
It said at least 30 Filipinos had been detained, but many of them were migrant workers without resident permits or those working in jobs which do not match their work permit, while others had been working with other employers who were not their original sponsors.
“Saudi authorities heightened its crackdown on undocumented migrants and nabbed at least 30 OFWs as per the initial reports we have received so far from our affiliates in the Kingdom,” said John Leonard Monterona, regional coordinator of Migrante Middle East.
Quoting local news reports, Monterona said in Riyadh alone, some 900 illegal expatriates, including 20 women, had been arrested during the first 5 days of the recent crackdown.
In Batha, Sulay, and Industrial Area, he said composite teams from Labor and Commerce ministries and the Riyadh municipality were visible and very active in conducting checkpoints and at times were searching houses where illegal migrants were suspected to be hiding.
Late last month, Saudi’s Ministry of Interior issued a stern warning saying it will intensify the crackdown on illegal expatriates as they have been tagged as main reason why crime rates escalated in the Kingdom.
“The common notion that illegal migrants were the very reason why crime rate escalates in the Kingdom is fairly objectionable. Most of the so called illegal migrants were actually victim of abuses, maltreatment and labor rights violations that were forced to abscond,” Monterona said.
He said their group has appealed to Saudi to treat arrested undocumented migrants fairly and not as criminals. Monterona said they also called on the Filipino government to provide assistance and to hasten the deportation of undocumented OFWs who are now languishing in jails.
“We would like to remind the Aquino government that there are more than 200 distressed Filipino women in Bahay Kalinga in Riyadh, while about 80 male OFWs are in a shelter being rented by the Philippine embassy. Most of them have been staying there for at least a year now.”
“Benigno Aquino and his administration could not even arrange the swift and free mass repatriation of the distressed and stranded OFWs in Saudi Arabia and no onsite assistance as well. Aquino is criminally negligent to the OFWs and their families. Aquino must resign immediately for failing to prioritize the welfare of the OFWs,” Monterona said.
There was no immediate statement from either the Department of Foreign Affairs or Aquino’s office about Migrante’s report. (Mindanao Examiner)
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