500 OFWs in Saudi take part in job fair

Some 500 overseas Filipino workers in Saudi Arabia took part in a recent job fair aimed at helping them get work after they legalize their status there.

A report on Arab News on Wednesday said Philippine Labor Attache Alejandro Padaen was satisfied with the fair, which attracted local companies with many Filipino employees.

"The job fair, which attracted some 500 OFWs from different professions, was held in response to a clamor among Filipinos who were, and are, in the process of correcting their status," he said.

Padaen said they are now waiting for the report from companies that participated in the job fair on how many Filipinos they will hire.

He noted illegal Filipino workers have until November 3 to leave or correct their status if they want to continue working in the Kingdom.

Illegal foreign workers in the Kingdom were initially given until July to correct their status or leave, but the Saudi government gave them a four-month reprieve.

Last August, the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Jeddah held a job fair with 300 OFWs participating.

On the other hand, the Arab News report quoted leaders of the Filipino community as saying that some OFWs are still having second thoughts about leaving Saudi Arabia.

While Philippine government officials had assured them there are many job opportunities in the Philippines, many still believe they have a chance at a better life in Saudi Arabia.

“It’s true that the Philippine government has programs to help returning OFWs by way of training for local employment or entrepreneurship, but the competition back home is stiff,” the report quoted the community leaders as saying. — KBK, GMA News

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