The government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will shoulder the unpaid salaries of 10,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), Department of Migrant Workers Secretary Susan Ople announced on Friday, Nov. 18.

The announcement was made after President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Thailand.

In a video statement, Ople said Salman pledged 2 billion riyals equivalent to Php 30.52 billion for OFWs who worked in construction companies that declared bankruptcy in 2015 and 2016

The companies included are Saudi OGer, MMG, and the Bin Laden group.

“The Crown Prince, His Royal Highness, announced and said that this was his gift – he really prepared for this and this was an agreement reached by the Saudi government just a few days ago,” Ople said.

Marcos, meanwhile, welcomed Saudi Arabia’s offered help.

“Napakagandang balita talaga. At pinaghandaan talaga tayo ni Crown Prince. Kaya’t sabi niya ‘yung desisyon na ‘yan ay nangyari lamang noong nakaraang ilang araw at dahil nga magkikita kami at sabi niya ito ‘yung regalo ko para sa inyo,“ he said.

Apart from this, the President said they also have talked to Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Labor who suggested setting up an insurance system for Filipino workers to prevent such circumstances from happening again.

“Sila mismo ang magbibigay ng insurance kung sakali man mangyari ang korporasyon na tinatrabahunan nila at hindi nila makuha ang sahod, yung insurance ang ibabayad,” he added.