The Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) issued an advisory to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the Middle East to contact the embassy, consulate or Philippine Overseas Labor Offices (POLO) immediately once they experience problems with their employers.

The advisory was issued jointly by DoLE and OWWA on Friday in view of the increasing reports of workers charged with violations of immigration laws of host governments.

“We advise our workers to seek help by contacting the embassy or consulate at the first sign of problems with employers, and not to run away,” said Labor Secretary Marianito D. Roque.

OWWA Administrator Carmelita S. Dimzon said “OWWA is ready to bring home a distressed OWWA member and make plane tickets available within 24 hours.”

Quick repatriation is assured when distressed workers coordinate with the Philippine mission or the POLOs in their area.

Dimzon also came out with a warning to all Filipino workers to be wary of hiring “fixers” who claim they can facilitate their transactions with government offices.

She also asked workers not to violate immigration laws of their destination country.

“An OFW charged with violation of immigration rules runs the risk of deportation. The OWWA welfare officer under the POLO will help resolve employment issues,” Dimzon said.

The OWWA advised OFWs in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to coordinate with the OWWA welfare officers Jose Tomas P. Octavio (email: josetomasoctavio@
yahoo.com); Nestor P. Burayag, Abdula T. Odin, Alex O. Vallespin, and Cesar L. Chavez, Jr.

The OWWA also said the email address of the consulate in Jeddah is owwa_asjeddah@yahoo.com.