MANILA, Philippines - Ninety seven distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are being repatriated from Kuwait and are expected to arrive in Manila on Monday, the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait  said.

The OFWs have left their employers for a host of reasons, including repeated abuses and deceptions by their employers.

Most of them sought refuge at the Filipino Workers Resource Center (FWRC), with some staying at the center for 3 to 8 months. The FWRC is operated by the Department of Labor and Employment-Overseas Workers Welfare Administration.

Through representations by the Embassy and the Philippine Overseas Labor Office, Kuwaiti immigration authorities waived the usual exit/repatriation requirements, Philippine Ambassador Shulan Primavera said on Sunday.

Kuwaiti authorities also shouldered the repatriates' plane fares.

The distressed workers were escorted to  the airport by Primavera, Labor Attache Vivo Vidal and other embassy staff.

The workers said they were maltreated by their employers in a number of ways such as physical, verbal and sexual abuse. They were also made to work overtime without pay, some were not given their proper salaries, while many were not given food.

One of the victims, Maricris Tumangday, who will turn 22 on Monday, escaped after her male employer attempted to rape her.

"Kung may opportunity ang mga kababayan natin mag-abroad, huwag na lang sa Middle East. Mahirap po kasi ang buhay dito, kasi, sobrang, parang tinging po ng mga tao dito, pinakamababang antas ang mga katulong dito sa Middle East. Kaya sa ibang bansa na lang, huwag na sa Middle East."

So far, there are 150 standed OFWs at the Filipino Workers Resource Center in Kuwait awaiting their return to the Philippines.

"This is a continuing project. Ang irony nito, habang may pinauuwi tayong mga kapatid nating mga runaways ditto sa center, patuloy rin ang pagdating diti sa resource center ng embahada ng mga runaways na naghahanap ang kalinga at pagtingin ng embahada, labour attaché at OWWA," said Primavera.