We, migrant workers of various nationalities, advocates and human rights activists call on to the Philippine government to immediately take action on the demands of stranded Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

On December 14, 16 OFWs started a hunger strike to pressure the Philippine government to answer what has long been demanded by stranded workers: immediate repatriation assistance and government services.

Their demands have fallen on deaf ears.

Instead on December 21, due to the request of embassy officials, the hunger strikers were arrested by the Saudi Police. According to reports, Embassy officials wished to prepare the premises for a Christmas Party scheduled for the next day.

While their nationals suffer the consequences of their inactions, these shameless embassy officials have clearly shown their irresponsibility and misplaced priorities.

For a long time, government officials who have visited the kingdom, including Labor Sec. Patricia Sto. Tomas, have pledged to assist stranded OFWs with their needs including repatriation.

However, months have already passed and still, government actions have been found wanting.

Stranded migrant workers who have run away from their employers due to abuse and exploitation are already in crisis. Government inaction on their plight compounds their already miserable condition.

The hunger strikers clamor primarily to be repatriated and for their welfare needs to be provided including the provision of a halfway house for male OFWs.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, in her various trips abroad has boasted of deals for a wider "market" for Filipino labor. However, the hunger strike that the stranded OFWs have started only showcase that government services to their citizens abroad have remained insufficient.

It is high time for the government to take up the cudgels of responding to the demands of their workers abroad.

We call on for the Philippine government to:

1. Immediately repatriate stranded workers who seek to go back to the Philippines;

2. File administrative cases against embassy officials who requested the Saudi Police to take action and arrest the hunger strikers and ban them from taking any posts abroad;

3. Provide food and medical assistance to stranded workers;

4. Provide financial and legal assistance to immediately resolve pending court cases of stranded migrants, and;

5. Provide a halfway shelter for male workers who have ran away from their employers or who have cases against their employers.

The hunger strike that the stranded workers in Riyadh have started should serve as a wake up call to the Philippine government: OFWs are in dire need of government services that have long been denied to them.

Signed:

Hong Kong

Abra Tinguian Ilocano Society Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants (APMM) Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) Asian Students Association (ASA) Association of Sri Lankans in Hong Kong Bethune House Migrant Women's Refuge (BHMWR) Center for Just Peace in Asia, Hong Kong Mission for Filipino Migrant Workers (MFMW) United Filipinos in Hong Kong (UNIFIL-HK) Bruce Van Voorhis

Taiwan

Hsiao-Chuan Hsia Associate Professor, Graduate Institute for Social Transformation Studies, Shih Hsin University Taiwan Labor Rights Association (China Taiwan) Taiwan Association for Victims of Occupational Injuries (TAVOI)

Philippines

Rev. Fr. Jose P. Dizon, Executive Director - Workers Assistance Center Inc.Emmanuel Asuncion, Chairperson - Solidarity of Cavite Workers Rita Baua for Bagong Alyansang Makabayan FERDINAND R. GAITE, National President - COURAGE, Philippines

Malaysia

TENAGANITA

India

Renji George Joseph, Convenor - 'Alliance for Holistic and Sustainable Development of Communities' (AHSDC)

Israel

Eve Tal Kibbutz Hatzor

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Francis Oca - Riyadh, K.S.A. Richard F. Bautista - Chairperson, Kapatiran sa Gitnang Silangan (KGS) Riyadh, KSA Angelito Fedelino - Coordinator, KGS - Riyadh Industrial Area, KSA. Ruel P. Madeja - Jubail, KSA Armando Ordoñez - Chairperson, MSP - Jubail (KSA) Chapter Migrante Sectoral Party - KSA Chapter Lakas ng Manggagawa sa Silangang Probinsya (LMSP), Eastern Province, KSA MSP - Riyadh Industrial Area (KSA) Chapter Antonio D. Coloma - President, Concerned OFW Association (COFWA) Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia Yusuf Germino - Jeddah, KSA Jhoey Calansingin - Riyadh, KSA

Kuwait

Freda Editha O. Contreras

South Korea

Pastor Jones Galang - Coordinator, Migrante Sectoral Party - Korea Danilo Santos - Chairperson, New Era Foundation Celso Panlaqui - Chairperson, New Era Foundation Bucheon Kyunggido Manuel Tiongson - Chairperson, New Era Foundation Suwon Kyunggido

The Netherlands

Rev. Cesar T. Taguba - Ecumenical Ministry for Filipinos Abroad, Amersfoort Ruth de Leon

Iceland

Elias Davidsson, Director - PRICE Reykjavik, Iceland

USA

Rev. Douglas B. Hunt- Washington Representative, United Church of Christ Network for Environmental and Economic Responsibility Mona Younis, Ph.D. - New York, NY, USA Ligaya McGovern, Ph.D. - Professor of Sociology, Indiana University, USA. Marie Luarca - Volunteers 4 Roco Northeast Green Party of Virginia

Canada

Connie C. Sorio - Philippine Network for Justice and Peace Toronto

Mexico

Raul H. Lugo Rodriguez - Indignacion. Promocion y Defensa de los Derechos Humanos A.C. MœGida, Yucatan

Australia

Deo Laranang - Advanced Semiconductor Engineering Group. QA William Asuit - Unilever Australia

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