The Philippine government is studying to find jobs in Saudi Arabia, even if only temporarily, for Filipino workers who are avoiding the conflict in Sudan.
“We are trying to explore the possibility that those who wished to be hired, instead of coming home kasi naiintindihan naman natin ‘yung iba ayaw umuwi kasi iniisip nila wala din naman kaming trabaho doon, might as well stay,” said Department of Migrant Workers Secretary Susan Ople.
“Then tingnan natin kung baka humupa ‘yung sitwasyon ano, but we’re exploring the possibility of temporary jobs for them in Saudi Arabia. We are working this out and we will have more concrete information once we work this out,” she added.
Ople will go to Cairo, Egypt, to see the situation of Filipinos affected by the chaos in Sudan due to the fighting between the military and para-military groups there.
The Department of Foreign Affairs previously announced that the first batch of 50 Filipinos to be brought to Cairo had left Khartoum, Sudan.
DFA spokesperson Ma. Teresita Daza this Tuesday, that by land the first batch of Filipino evacuees left Khartoum at 8 p.m. (Manila time) this Monday.
OFWs coming from Sudan may find work in KSA – DMW
They will be taken to Aswan in Egypt, and then travel again to the capital Cairo.
Earlier Monday, the DFA said that 156 Filipinos in Sudan had sought assistance from the Philippine government to leave Sudan.
Foreigners are being evacuated from Sudan due to the conflict between the Sudanese military and paramilitary groups.
According to Ople, there are 725 Filipinos who contacted the Philippine Embassy to ask for help. Of that number, 327 want to be repatriated.
“The President’s directives were number one, to get all of them to safety as quickly as possible. Number two, it shouldn’t matter whatever papers they have or if they don’t have any papers at all…” the official said.
“To quote the President, kung marunong mag-Tagalog, marunong mag-Bisaya, marunong mag-Ilokano, marunong ng iba’t-ibang dialect sa atin, Pinoy ‘yan, we will help,” added Ople.
The secretary said they would set up welfare assistance desks there and provide evacuees with $200 each.
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