Half a million Saudi OFWs may turn jobless, says labor group

At least a half a million overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in will lose their jobs after the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia implements a six-year cap on working permits issued to foreign workers, a labor group said.

The so-called “Saudization” plan is intended to favor Saudi nationals over expatriate workers when it comes to job opportunities.

“If implemented, this will affect thousands of OFWs who have been staying in Saudi for more than six years. Some 60 percent of the 1.2 million OFWs in Saudi are re-hires,” said  John Leonard Monterona, regional coordinator of OFW group Migrante in the Middle East.

DFA asks Saudi OFWs to report unjust terminations

Filipino migrant workers in Saudi Arabia who get terminated from their jobs without a valid cause should get in touch with the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Monday.

The agency also advised OFWs in the Kingdom to regularly visit the Philippine Embassy website for updates on the Nitaqat or “Saudization" system, which prioritizes the employment of Saudi nationals over foreign workers in Saudi-owned firms.

Saudi bans domestic workers from Philippines

Saudi Arabia announced Wednesday it would stop granting work permits to domestic workers from Indonesia and the Philippines, following hiring conditions imposed by the Asian countries.

The ministry of labour said it would "stop issuing work visas to bring domestic workers from Indonesia and the Philippines, effective from Saturday" due to "the terms of recruitment announced by the two countries," according to a statement carried by state news agency SPA.

Implementation of Saudization program

Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Saudi Arabia expressed anxiety over the upcoming implementation of the “Saudization” program, under which foreign workers who have worked there for six years or more will no longer be issued working permits.

All Saudi firms are urged to comply with the Nitaqat system by September 10 as part of its efforts to prioritize hiring of Saudi nationals and to reduce unemployment in the country.