Warning on Saudi jobs loss unfounded — DOLE

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Tuesday dismissed the reported claims that Filipino workers in Saudi Arabia may lose their jobs due to the Philippine government’s demands for higher salaries and protection. Acting Labor Secretary Lourdes Trasmonte downplayed reports that Saudi Arabian employers could be pressured by their government to stop hiring Filipinos or not renew existing contracts due to a supposed impasse on hiring workers. “We assure our OFWs in Saudi Arabia that we remain firm in our objective of providing them better employment terms, better welfare protection, and better salaries," Trasmonte said in a statement. She added there is no “continuing disagreement" as alleged by the report. Instead, she said there is an agreement of the Saudi Arabia-Philippines Joint Technical Committee to meet regularly to discuss mutual concerns, including the welfare and protection of household service workers in the Middle Eastern country. Trasmonte said the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration’s (POEA) deployment projection of OFWs to Saudi Arabia remains on the upside even if fewer household service workers are sent there. “In fact, the POEA projects that a higher volume of rehires will leave for Saudi Arabia this year," she said, adding that the country serves as a prime destination of OFWs. The DOLE said the POEA deployment projection took into account the study of the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce on the development of Saudi mega economic cities. It said the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce estimates a need for 10 million local and expatriate workers for the major development by 2014. One of the projects is the 20 billion Saudi riyal worth of light rail and buses and sea transport systems to be completed over the next 15 years. The Ministry of Health also needs about 10,000 nurses in the next five years for private hospitals and clinics, such as the Al Habib Medical Group, Al Waroud Hospital, and Riyadh Care Hospital, the DOLE said. Trasmonte stressed that the Philippines and Saudi Arabia recognize the long history of their friendly relations and the mutual benefits derived from the deployment of Filipino workers to the Kingdom in accordance with their respective laws. “Saudi Arabia and the Philippines continue to take positive steps pertaining to OFWs, and these positive steps will further strengthen the prospects of OFWs getting employed in Saudi Arabia on one hand and provide them better welfare and protection on the other hand," she said. — JE, GMA News