DOLE orders intensified assistance to OFWs affected by Saudization
The Department of Labor and Employment last Thursday ordered the Philippine Overseas Labor Offices (POLO) in Saudi Arabia to intensify its assistance to overseas Filipino workers affected by the Kingdom's Saudization policy or the 'Nitaqat' that requires local companies to hire one Saudi national for every 10 migrant workers .
DOLE Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz particularly ordered Labor Attaches Adam Musa (Riyadh) and Alejandro Padaen (Jeddah) to lead the intensified assistance.
"I expect you to submit a twice-a-week update on the status of the OFWs and results of measures undertaken by the Post," she said.
Baldoz earlier issued a memorandum dated April 22 ordering a thorough documentation of affected OFWs in their respective areas of jurisdiction.
The documentation must include the OFWs' last arrival date; name/s of sponsors; last known employer; Philippine recruitment agency; and the foreign placement agency.
It must also identify the problems encountered by the OFW and the assistance being requested.
Also, Baldoz ordered the POLOs to negotiate with the OFWs' original sponsors to take back the OFWs. If that is not possible, they should at least negotiate the release or transfer of the OFWs to new employers.
Should these not be possible, the POLOs are to negotiate with the employers for the waiver of penalties and the issuance of the necessary documents such as the "No Objection" Certificate, to facilitate the issuance of the OFW's exit visa.
Repatriation
Musa said the POLO-Riyadh records showed 1,371 runaway workers are seeking repatriation.
These include 860 household service workers, 117 children and infants, 494 male skilled workers, and 17 company-based female workers.
But he said Saudi employers belonging to the Green category, or those companies already with high Saudization rates, had submitted job orders to the POLO for OFWs who may be dislocated or terminated due to Saudization.
He said Centerpoint Department Store, with branches all over the KSA and parts of the Middle East, offers at least 1,000 jobs for Filipinos.
"There are also other companies and establishments who have approached the POLO and offered jobs for any OFWs who are displaced because of the Saudization,” he said.
Also, he said requests for assistance from affected OFWs concerning their transfer, or any Saudization (Nitaqat)-related requests are decreasing.
He said this may be due to the involvement of the employers in the processing of OFWs’ documents.
So far, he said the only Nitaqat-related complaint officially lodged at the Post is the case of 19 Filipino nurses who worked for other sponsors and who agreed to return to their original sponsor once their benefit claims are settled.
Mobile phone lines
Musa said the POLO had provided one mobile phone line and one landline each to POLOs in Al-Khobar, Unaizah, and Riyadh so personnel can respond immediately to workers.
In Jeddah, Padaen said 28 OFWs from three affected companies requested POLO assistance in the facilitation of their final exit clearances, renewal of working and residence permits, and transfer of employment and payment of claims and benefits.
"The POLO has already requested Saudi authorities for a list of companies under the red category, or those companies who does not have the required number of Saudi employees. Our purpose is to obtain a clear profile of affected OFWs, to identify possible interventions, and to conduct dialogues with the employers," Padaen said. — LBG, GMA News
DOLE Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz particularly ordered Labor Attaches Adam Musa (Riyadh) and Alejandro Padaen (Jeddah) to lead the intensified assistance.
"I expect you to submit a twice-a-week update on the status of the OFWs and results of measures undertaken by the Post," she said.
Baldoz earlier issued a memorandum dated April 22 ordering a thorough documentation of affected OFWs in their respective areas of jurisdiction.
The documentation must include the OFWs' last arrival date; name/s of sponsors; last known employer; Philippine recruitment agency; and the foreign placement agency.
It must also identify the problems encountered by the OFW and the assistance being requested.
Also, Baldoz ordered the POLOs to negotiate with the OFWs' original sponsors to take back the OFWs. If that is not possible, they should at least negotiate the release or transfer of the OFWs to new employers.
Should these not be possible, the POLOs are to negotiate with the employers for the waiver of penalties and the issuance of the necessary documents such as the "No Objection" Certificate, to facilitate the issuance of the OFW's exit visa.
Repatriation
Musa said the POLO-Riyadh records showed 1,371 runaway workers are seeking repatriation.
These include 860 household service workers, 117 children and infants, 494 male skilled workers, and 17 company-based female workers.
But he said Saudi employers belonging to the Green category, or those companies already with high Saudization rates, had submitted job orders to the POLO for OFWs who may be dislocated or terminated due to Saudization.
He said Centerpoint Department Store, with branches all over the KSA and parts of the Middle East, offers at least 1,000 jobs for Filipinos.
"There are also other companies and establishments who have approached the POLO and offered jobs for any OFWs who are displaced because of the Saudization,” he said.
Also, he said requests for assistance from affected OFWs concerning their transfer, or any Saudization (Nitaqat)-related requests are decreasing.
He said this may be due to the involvement of the employers in the processing of OFWs’ documents.
So far, he said the only Nitaqat-related complaint officially lodged at the Post is the case of 19 Filipino nurses who worked for other sponsors and who agreed to return to their original sponsor once their benefit claims are settled.
Mobile phone lines
Musa said the POLO had provided one mobile phone line and one landline each to POLOs in Al-Khobar, Unaizah, and Riyadh so personnel can respond immediately to workers.
In Jeddah, Padaen said 28 OFWs from three affected companies requested POLO assistance in the facilitation of their final exit clearances, renewal of working and residence permits, and transfer of employment and payment of claims and benefits.
"The POLO has already requested Saudi authorities for a list of companies under the red category, or those companies who does not have the required number of Saudi employees. Our purpose is to obtain a clear profile of affected OFWs, to identify possible interventions, and to conduct dialogues with the employers," Padaen said. — LBG, GMA News
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