DOLE-OWWA to Assist Families of OFWs Killed in KSA Road Mishap

Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz condoled with the bereaved families of overseas Filipino workers who died in a road accident at Hofuf, Al-Hassa in the Eastern Region of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), and assured that the DOLE will provide them necessary assistance through the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration’s (OWWA) social benefits and services.

“We received a report from Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) OIC and Welfare Officer Sitti Jaafar, that 26 OFWs were in a Toyota bus driven by a Pakistani that collided with a truck on Harudh Road, Hawiyah at 5:38 P.M., KSA time, on 16 November,” Baldoz said.

The HR officer of the Saudi Arabia Kentz, the contracting and engineering company that employed the OFWs, said they have already communicated with the dependents of their employees who died in the said vehicular accident.

“We commiserate with the families of our OFWs who died in this accident. Rest assured that the OWWA will promptly process the benefits and coordinate with the repatriation of the remains of these OFWs,” said Baldoz.

As of 18 November, the Saudi Arabia Kentz said they have already talked to nine next of kin of the fatalities. They assured the POLO that they will continue to send updates as quickly as possible.

“Our OWWA social benefit program provides monetary assistance for the legal heir of OFWs who died due to accident. OWWA has also the disability or dismemberment benefit for injuries sustained due to accidents while working abroad,” said Baldoz.

On top of the death benefit, a rider shall be received by the legal heir for the funeral expenses.

An Education and Livelihood Assistance Program (ELAP) is also implemented by OWWA via scholarships for the survivor of deceased OFW, as well as a livelihood assistance for the surviving spouse.

The educational assistance is accorded to only one dependent of the deceased OFW member of OWWA.

The company will arrange and take charge of repatriation of the human remains of deceased OFWs, and the Philippine Embassy and the POLO-OWWA will coordinate with company for the early repatriation.

OFWs who regularly pay their OWWA membership fee are entitled to get these social benefits and services.

Source: www.dole.gov.ph