DFA denies 15 OFWs arrested in Saudi crackdown

Tags: Department of Foreign Affairs
The Department of Foreign Affairs has denied that 15 undocumented Filipino workers were arrested by Saudi authorities over the weekend following the crackdown on illegally staying foreigners in the Kingdom.
 
Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez said that contrary to reports, roving embassy teams did not find any Filipino arrested during their visit to eight police stations in the Greater Riyadh area on Nov. 9 and 10.

Among the areas visited by the team was Manfouha district, the site of a violent clash between Saudi police and a group of undocumented Ethiopians last Nov. 9.

Saudi Arabia has resumed its crackdown against illegal workers after the grace period for foreigners to correct their status expired on Nov. 3.

The crackdown is part of Saudi’s so-called Saudization policy to provide more jobs to locals.
 
Philippine officials do not have an exact figure of undocumented Filipino workers, but said during the seven-month grace period, 157, 694 Filipinos were able to regularize their status.
 
Of that number, 53,330 transferred to another employer while 104,364 changed professions.
 
Saudi Labor Ministry records also show that a total of 38,939 individuals, including those whose plane tickets were paid for by the Philippine government, left the Kingdom on final exit visas during the same period.

Filipino workers are one of the largest group of foreigners in Saudi, with figures estimated between 600,000 to 1.8 million.
 
They work mostly as construction workers, maids, truck drivers, electricians, laborers, food servers and mechanics. There is also a relatively small number of nurses, architects and marketing specialists.
 
Hernandez said repatriation efforts by the Philippine government for undocumented workers are ongoing.
 
He said those who wish to return home should contact the embassy or consulate for assistance. —Michaela del Callar/RSJ, GMA News

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