POLO-OWWA office in Jeddah closed after employee dies of COVID-19

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Overseas Labor Office – Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (POLO-OWWA) in Jeddah is temporarily closed from July 22 to August 9 following the death of one of its personnel last Monday due to COVID-19 complications.

Meanwhile, three other employees were suspected of having contracted the disease and were advised to self-quarantine.

Recently, the Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah also suspended its operations early in July due to two employees who tested positive for COVID-19.

During the interim, the consulate said the Department of Labor and Employment’s Abot Kamay ang Pagtulong (DOLE-AKAP) payout will continue at the consulate until Thursday, July 23.

The delivery of the same cash assistance in the respective homes of the beneficiaries will proceed normally, it added.

The POLO-OWWA hotline will also be available for urgent labor concerns at 056-981-9720.

The consulate also reminded everyone that consular assistance and other services will remain available from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.

On Tuesday, the Department of Labor and Employment said the remains of 57 overseas Filipino workers who died of COVID-19 are expected to arrive next week, 30 of whom are from Jeddah.

There are reportedly at least 256,000 reported COVID-19 cases in Saudi Arabia with 2,500 deaths and 207,000 recoveries. Jim Mendoza

JE