Report: 10k Pinoys may avail of concessions to exit Saudi Arabia

Some 10,000 Filipino workers in Saudi Arabia may seek to avail of recent concessions by the Kingdom's government to go home, a Saudi news site reported Sunday.

A report on Arab News said the Saudi Ministry of Labor ordered all labor offices to work in the evening and even on Thursdays to handle applications by those availing of the concessions.

The report said "tens of thousands" of illegals have registered with their consulates in the last 30 days to get airline tickets.

It said these include "nearly 10,000 Filipinos" along with 6,000 Pakistanis, 60,000 Indians, 7,000 Sri Lankans and other nationalities.

Last Friday, the government announced concessions for the rectification of residence and labor status of expatriates in the Kingdom.

The report said 90 percent of services for expats are done online to avoid long queues at labor offices.

On Saturday night, Labor Minister Adel Fakeih met behind closed doors in Riyadh with diplomats from labor-supplying countries to discuss the new regulations on expatriate labor.

Representatives from Pakistan India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, the Philippines and other countries participated.

The Arab News quoted a South Asian diplomat as saying the meeting was “excellent.”

Expat teachers

But the report said expat teachers found little relief in Friday’s announcement, as the Ministries of Labor and Interior have not covered expats under the sponsorship of relatives in their concessions.

It added school authorities have expressed concern regarding the transfer of iqamas (residential permits) of female staff.

The report said teachers want a guarantee that they can transfer their iqamas to the sponsorship of their fathers or husbands in case their contracts are terminated.

Also, if their male guardians lose jobs, they may be allowed to continue residing in the Kingdom on a “mahram” status since women need male guardians to live in the Kingdom.

They also want schools to give workers family status should they decide to transfer their iqamas to the schools’ sponsorship. — LBG, GMA News

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