Secretary Cacdac will discuss unpaid OFW wages during his visit to Saudi Arabia.

Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac is scheduled to visit the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia this May to address the outstanding wages and benefits of approximately 10,000 displaced Filipino workers. Cacdac emphasized that the visit also aims to enhance the bilateral relationship between the two countries.

Among the key topics for discussion with Saudi officials, Cacdac highlighted the ongoing disbursement of claims owed to Filipino workers and the need to strengthen institutional mechanisms ensuring fair and ethical recruitment and employment practices for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). Additionally, he will address Saudi Arabia’s request for more Filipino workers to support its Vision 2030 development program, which aims at economic, social, and cultural diversification.

The issue of unpaid wages gained traction in November 2022 when Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman assured President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. of the Saudi government’s commitment to resolving the matter, allocating a SAR2-billion fund for this purpose. Subsequently, the Department of Migrant Workers submitted a list of 10,554 displaced OFW claimants to Saudi authorities in the third quarter of 2023. By November and December 2023, approximately 1,500 Saudi claimants began receiving their claims checks from the Saudi Alinma Bank.

To expedite the processing and encashment of claims checks, the DMW forged a memorandum of agreement with the Landbank of the Philippines and the Overseas Filipino Bank. Secretary Cacdac expressed optimism that the next round of claims check distribution would occur in the second quarter of 2024.

Following the passing of former Secretary Susan “Toots” Ople in August of the previous year, Secretary Cacdac assumed the role of ad interim DMW Secretary on April 24, appointed by President Marcos after serving as the officer-in-charge of the DMW.