Press Release
PR-121-2014
1 October 2014

Embassy Officials Visit OFWs at
Mohammad Al-Mojil Group Camp in Jubail

(Riyadh, 1 October 2014) – Philippine Embassy officials met with hundreds of Filipino workers of the distressed Saudi company Mohammad Al-Mojil Group (MMG) earlier this week. MMG, which has been facing severe financial difficulties for nearly a year now, currently employs several thousand Filipino workers, who have sought the Embassy’s assistance to address their concerns over their outstanding salaries and benefits.

Around 500 Filipino workers met with the Embassy delegation in the MMG camp in Jubail – known as Jubail Camp II – on 29 September 2014. The dialogue centered around the issues of delayed salaries, non-payment of End-of-Service (ESB), non-payment of vacation leave benefits, and other related matters.

The Embassy delegation also observed MMG’s food distribution to the Filipino workers and inspected the medical clinic within the camp, all in view of the need to ensure that the Filipino workers appropriate needs are met.

Following the visit to the camp, Embassy officials proceeded to the MMG Main Office in Dammam to meet President and CEO William Milligan and other company officials.

During the meeting, Embassy officials conveyed to MMG management the results of their dialogue with the Filipino workers, particularly of the willingness of 461 of the workers to be repatriated to the Philippines, on the condition that they receive their three months back wages and unpaid vacation leaves prior to their return to the country.

The company agreed to work with the Embassy and POLO to facilitate the repatriation of these workers, in accordance with the workers’ proposal, and pursue efforts to effect the repatriation of all OFWs staying in Jubail Camp II.

The delegation also raised with MMG management ways of improving the company’s ability to distribute food that would sufficiently address the dietary requirements of the workers, as well as prioritizing the repatriation of OFWs with medical termination and those terminated with due cause.

The Embassy will continue its coordination with MMG management and the Filipino workers with a view to resolving the current issues in an expeditious and methodical manner. (END)