Binay to illegal OFWs in Saudi: Use 3-month reprieve to correct your status

Even as he welcomed the Saudi government's three-month reprieve for illegal workers, Vice President Jejomar Binay on Sunday called on Filipino workers in the kingdom to use the opportunity to correct their status.

Binay, who is presidential adviser on Overseas Filipino Worker concerns, also reminded OFWs to follow the laws of their respective host countries.

"I call on our kababayans in Saudi to grab this opportunity to correct your status. Follow the labor laws of your host country and resolve any work violations you might have committed," he said on his Facebook account.

“To those planning to work overseas, please make sure to go through the legal channels and file your proper documents to avoid any untoward incidents,” he added.

He also urged Philippine diplomatic posts in Saudi Arabia to expedite the processing of working documents, and to extend all assistance they could give.

Binay said that some 20,000 of the 1.5 million Filipino workers in Saudi Arabia could be undocumented.

"Given this number, it is important for our diplomatic offices to double-time to make the most of the three-month grace period,” he said.

The Saudi government had been cracking down on erring employers and illegal workers who violated iqama and visa laws.

Workers without proper documents face fines or imprisonment as well as deportation and a possible ban from entering the kingdom again.

“We are grateful to King Abdullah for giving our overseas workers a chance to fix the discrepancies in their working documents. This brings great relief to us all, especially to the families of the affected Filipino workers,” Binay said.

Binay on Sunday left for Paris to represent President Benigno Aquino III at an exhibition featuring Philippine arts and culture at the Musée du Quai Branly. — BM, GMA News

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