The Philippines and Saudi Arabia agree on several rights-based reforms for OFWs before the deployment ban to the kingdom is lifted on November 7.
MANILA, Philippines – Filipino domestic workers who are abused or not paid their salaries will be allowed to pre-terminate their contracts with their employers, according to the new Standard Employment Contract that the Philippines negotiated with Saudi Arabia.
In November 2021, the Philippines halted the processing of new contracts for domestic workers bound for Saudi Arabia. Among reasons for the ban were the unpaid wages of thousands of Filipino construction workers since 2016, and allegations of a retired Saudi general abusing several Filipino workers.Migrant Workers Secretary Susan “Toots” Ople proudly announced the several “firsts” that the Philippines and Saudi Arabia agreed on for OFW welfare.
But the Philippines brought up in bilateral talks that missing just one month’s salary would already be too difficult for Filipinos. With the help of the Saudi platform, salaries will be automated, and both countries would be able to see immediately if a worker is unpaid, even for just a month. Saudi Arabia also agreed that, like Philippine recruitment agencies, Saudi recruitment agencies will be required to hire welfare desk officers or WEDOs. “There will also be a “blacklist” and “whitelist” of recruitment agencies and employers that will be shared between the two countries. Abusive and non-compliant agencies will be on the blacklist. Blacklisted agencies will not be allowed to participate in recruitment and deployment of workers.
Philippines Latest News, Philippines Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
MB Daily News Update: Saudi starts hiring OFWs anew MondayThese are the major stories in Manila Bulletin’s roster of reports this Saturday afternoon, Nov. 5, 2022.
Read more »
More OFWS to fly out soon as deployment curbs lifted by DMW - BusinessMirrorMORE overseas Filipino workers (OFW) are expected to be deployed by next week as the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) lifts its deployment restriction for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Last month, DMW Secretary Susan V. Ople announced the resumption of deployment of household, construction and other skilled workers by Nov. 7, 2022. Recruitment
Read more »
DMW: OFW protections included in new Saudi-specific employment contractAfter the Philippines and Saudi Arabia agreed on reforms in labor policies for migrant workers, a country-specific employment contract for overseas Filipino workers bound for the kingdom will include protections for OFWs, Department of Migrant Workers Secretary Susan Ople said on Saturday.
Read more »
Philippines still among worst countries in prosecuting killers of journalists —CPJThe Philippines is still ranked 7th among the worst countries in prosecuting killers of journalists, based on the 2022 Global Impunity Index of the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).
Read more »
Starbucks Philippines: New drinks, 2023 planner launched for Holidays 2022The tradition of collecting stickers continues this year for patrons of Starbucks Philippines. Each holiday season, the coffeehouse's customers collect a
Read more »