Saudi employers reminded to set up bank accounts for Pinoy HSW's

Employers in Saudi Arabia were reminded over the weekend to set up bank accounts for Filipino household service workers (HSWs) to make sure they are paid on time.

A report on Arab News quoted Philippine Overseas Labor Office officials in Riyadh and Jeddah as saying: "It's ... one way of avoiding any dispute over salaries later on." 

Labor Attaché Alex Padaen added the bank accounts are crucial to ensure workers are paid on time.

For its part, the Philippine embassy in Saudi Arabia has required local housemaid recruitment companies to submit monthly reports on deposits of housemaid salaries.

Padaen also noted Saudi employers appear to be rushing to hire Filipino domestic helpers because Saudi Arabia's population is growing.

The Arab News report said HSWs include domestic helpers, baby sitters, gardeners, cooks and family drivers.

Saudi Arabia started issuing visas for HSWs on Oct. 1 last year.

Earlier, the recruitment of HSWs was suspended due to differences between the Philippines and Saudi Arabia on the rights of HSWs.

Work conditions

The Arab News report said the Philippine officials cited circulars from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) that the standard salary for HSWs is $400 a month.

Also, HSWs have to work eight hours daily and entitled to a weekly day-off.

On the other hand, Padaen said Philippine labor offices in the Kingdom do not accept individual applications.

“Individual applicants for a housemaid, for example, have to approach accredited Saudi recruitment agencies. The documents should include the employment contract, visa and plane tickets. The agency submits these to the POLO for accreditation,” Padaen said.

POLO then issues them a certificate of accreditation that they send to their counterparts in the Philippines. The Philippine counterparts then submit it and other documents to the POEA.

Monthly reports

The Philippine Embassy in Riyadh said monthly reports must include the account numbers of the Filipino housemaids working in the Kingdom.

Also, they must show that monthly salaries are deposited in the accounts, and the iqama number of the housemaid must appear on the report.

Reports should be upgraded each month.

"There will no longer be any business dealings with any office that stops issuing the monthly reports," labor attaché Adam Musa said.

Also, the Philippine embassy will follow up on the financial situation of the housemaid. — LBG, GMA News

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