Bello: Saudization effect will be minimal; skilled workers in demand elsewhere


Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III on Saturday said the Saudization policy will have only a minimal effect on overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Saudi Arabia since non-skilled workers will still be needed there.
"Konti lang ang epekto niyan dahil unang-una ang mawawalan lang ng trabaho diyan ay iyong skilled workers natin," Bello said.


"Iyong Saudization na 'yan palagay ko hindi mag-a-apply sa mga household service workers dahil wala namang Arabo na papayag na maging household service worker. Kaya hindi maaapektuhan 'yan," he added.


The Saudization program is a policy by the kingdom's labor ministry requiring companies and enterprises to reduce the number of foreign workers to give opportunities to Saudi nationals.
Due to the Saudization program, OFWs in 35 skill categories will not have their residence permit renewed. Among those affected by this move are OFWs working as pharmacists, security guards, and office employees working in human resources.
"Maapektuhan itong ating mga skilled workers, mga engineers, mga professionals," the Labor secretary said.
However, he said Filipino skilled workers who will lose their jobs in Saudi Arabia need not worry as there are other countries where such workers are in demand.
"Meron tayong alternative market. Mag-oopen na ang Czechoslovakia, mag-oopen na ang Poland, mag-oopen na ang China... May bagong nilagdaang agreement with the Japanese at nangangailangan ng over 340,000 workers in Japan," Bello said.
"'Yon ang pinagkakaabalahan ngayon ng POEA [Philippine Overseas Employment Administration] at ng Department of Labor para mabigyan ng magandang trabaho ang ating mga kababayan sa Japan," he added.
Japan is in need of over 300,000 foreign workers and lucky Filipino applicants can earn at least P50,000 a month as initial salary. Industries in need of foreign workers are food service, manufacturing, food and beverage, care workers, building and cleaning management, construction, aviation and agriculture.
Bello also said Filipino construction workers working in Saudi Arabia can look forward to jobs at home due to the Build Build Build program.
"Gusto nga natin na bawiin na talaga sila (mga skilled worker na nasa Saudi Arabia) dahil kailangang-kailangan natin ng mga skilled worker doon sa ating build-build-build infrastructure program ng administrasyong Duterte," he said.


Bello also said the Philippine construction industry asked that construction workers not be sent abroad for now due to the local demand.
"Hininto muna namin ang pagpapalabas ng construction workers sa ating bansa," he added. —KG, GMA News

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