Pacific Tribune
Gathering Art and Lifestyle News about Issues for the Pacific Basin
Over 23,600 Indonesian workers deported this year
Friday, December 26th, 2008
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Over 23,600 Indonesian workers deported this year
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia deported 23,644 Indonesian migrant workers, mostly maids, in 2008. Most of these workers entered the Kingdom on Umrah visas and overstayed, said senior Indonesian officials.“The total number of Indonesian workers deported this year will be a little more than the figure of 23,644 given by the Indonesian Consulate in Jeddah,” said Indonesian Embassy spokesman Arif Suyoko.
“In fact, the total number of deported workers from Saudi Arabia as a whole can be higher if we include Riyadh immigration also,” said Suyoko, who was commenting on a report compiled and released by Indonesian Consul General Abdullah Mansyur.
Dreams Turned Nightmare: Is There Still Hope for Stranded OFWs in Jeddah?
Wednesday, March 19th, 2008
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They went to Saudi Arabia with dreams of giving a better life to their families. But when they arrived in the kingdom their dreams turned into a nightmare. They had to escape abusive employers. And when they did they were left in a limbo, with no jobs, no money, and no means to go back home.They have not received their salaries for several months, some for a year or two, and the longest for 18 years. They have lived under a bridge, then in tents within the Philippine Consulate’s premises. Some of them have been duped by fixers, with promises of helping them return to the Philippines through the backdoor. They have been transported to different deportation facilities with hands and feet cuffed. They have been jam-packed in small cells, brawling with other stranded migrant workers for food to survive another day. They fear that they will be returned to their abusive employers whom they have already escaped from. Some of them have lost contact with their loved ones in the Philippines, because they do not have the money to do so or because the Saudi police have confiscated their mobile phones.
Makkah Imam Calls for Islamic Common Market
Saturday, March 15th, 2008
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Would Indonesia be a part of that market? This has some global implications?
Makkah Imam Calls for Islamic Common Market
RIYADH, 15 March 2008 — Sheikh Saud Al-Shuraim, imam of the Grand Mosque in Makkah and a member of the teaching staff at Umm Al-Qura University, has called for the establishment of an Islamic common market.Delivering his Juma sermon at the Grand Mosque yesterday, the imam said the proposed market should follow the teachings of the Shariah, keeping away from interest-based financial dealings.
Many international financial organizations have started adopting Islamic financing systems after the latter proved successful in terms of achieving substantial profits, Al-Shuraim said, adding that the Qur’an and Sunnah have explained the basic principles for financial transactions.
Ezzuddin Khoja, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of the Islamic Financial Banks, said Islamic banks in Arab and Muslim countries alone now handle more than $250 billion.
Stranded OFWs in Jeddah had to Camp Out Under Bridge to be Repatriated
Saturday, February 16th, 2008
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Full StoryStranded OFWs in Jeddah had to Camp Out Under Bridge to be Repatriated | Bulatlat
Stranded OFWs in Jeddah had to Camp Out Under Bridge to be RepatriatedThe Philippine Consulate in Jeddah reported that 922 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who were stranded in the Kingdom with no contracts and jobs have already been deported back to the Philippines. But this happened only after the OFWs have gone through a lot of hardships including living in tents under a bridge.
BY AUBREY SC MAKILAN
MIGRANT WATCH
Bulatlat
Vol. VIII, No. 3, February 17-23, 2008The Philippine Consulate in Jeddah reported that 922 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who were stranded in the Kingdom with no contracts and jobs have already been deported back to the Philippines. But this happened only after the OFWs have gone through a lot of hardships including living in tents under a bridge for more than a year.
Thus, Migrante said, the Arroyo government must take concrete steps to ensure that the “perennial” issue of stranded OFWs in Saudi Arabia is addressed.
Longing up to her last breath
Her longing to see her son Joel Agana, one of the stranded OFWs in Jeddah, had made Fe, who was confined in a hospital because of a heart attack, live for another three weeks.
“Sinasabi namin uuwi na si Joel kaya parang lumalakas loob n’ya,” (We were telling her that Joel is about to go home and it made her feel stronger.) recalled Anita Manota, Joel’s auntie.
Up to the time Fe breathed her last breath, last Feb. 11, she was still longing to see her son. But unfortunately, at the time of Fe’s death, Joel was still among the OFWs protesting outside the Philippine Consulate in Jeddah demanding for their repatriation.
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