POLOs in Riyadh and Jeddah starts accreditation of Saudi recruitment agencies; better welfare and protection of HSWs


Date Posted: February 22nd, 2013 06:27 AM


The Philippine Overseas Labor Offices (POLOs) in Riyadh and Jeddah have started to accept applications for the accreditation of Saudi recruitment agencies which have signified intention to recruit Filipino household service workers (HSWs).
The accreditation is meant to ensure that only licensed Saudi Arabian recruitment or placement agencies shall be allowed in the recruitment process.
“Only Saudi recruitment agencies duly licensed by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Labor and registered as a business enterprise by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry shall be allowed to participate in the recruitment of HSWs,” Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz said.
Baldoz emphasized that because of the involvement of Saudi recruitment agencies (SRAs) in the recruitment and placement of HSWs, the POLO will simplify the processing of all HSWs documents. Under the new process, employers are no longer required to appear before the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh or the Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah to submit documents as proof of salary and location of residence, and other requirements.
“The appearance of Saudi employers will no longer be necessary.  At the same time, if a problem occurs between the employer and the worker, the Saudi recruitment agency will help in resolving the problem,” explained Baldoz who signed an agreement with Ambassador Abdullah Al-Hassan of the Royal Saudi Embassy in the Philippines on the accreditation process and resumption of deployment of HSWs to Saudi Arabia on 18 September 2012.
The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) has already adopted the rules and requirements for the accreditation of SRAs and the processing of the standard employment contract (SEC) for HSWs.
To apply for accreditation, the SRA has to partner with a duly-licensed Philippine recruitment agency (PRA) which will assist in the recruitment, selection, and deployment of the selected HSW. 
To get POLO accreditation, the SRA will have to submit the following documents to the POLOs: 
1.     Application form;
2.     Copy of valid recruitment license from the Ministry of Labor with English translation;
3.     Copy of the valid certificate of commercial registration from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry with certified English translation;
4.     Copy of national ID of the owner or licensee of the Saudi recruitment agency;
5.     Copy of valid recruitment license between the SRA and PRA;
6.     Copy of recruitment agreement between the SRA and PRA;
7.     Job order or manpower request; and
8.     Sketch or Google map of the location of the SRA.
Once the POLO has verified the required documents, it will issue a certificate of accreditation to the SRA which the latter will register with the POEA. The SRA, after registration of its certificate of accreditation, can already submit employment contracts for verification to the POLOs. 
The standard employment contract provides for the payment of salaries of  not less than $400 through a personal bank account to be opened by the employer;  one day of rest each week;   30-day vacation leave for every two years of service with free round-trip economy class ticket; and bonus of one month’s salary upon renewal of the contract.
Upon expiration of the contract, the worker is entitled to free transportation to Saudi Arabia and back to the Philippines. In case of termination for reasons not attributable to the worker, the employer shall bear the cost of repatriation of the worker to the Philippines. 
End/ctm

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