Saudi Arabia Says No to Extension of Amnesty, Thousands of OFWs Yet to be Repatriated


BY 
APRIL ROSE
 – NOVEMBER 3, 2013POSTED IN: OFW NEWS, WORLD

Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia – It’s final. The Ministry Of Labor of the Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia said that there won’t be any extension of the amnesty, period, for undocumented OFWs. This signals the crackdown of illegal workers in Saudi Arabia, including undocumented Filipino OFWs.photo credit: dzmm.abs-cbnnews
photo credit: dzmm.abs-cbnnews
According to the ministry’s spokesman, Hattab Al-Enezi, the reports that circulated in social media saying that the Saudi government would grant the illegal workers more time is false. He stated that the countrywide raids would begin as planned on Monday, November 4.
More than 1,200 men and women inspectors will start raiding companies, markets and public places all over the kingdom to check for illegal workers. However, the people who are already waiting to legalize their stay in the kingdom or just waiting to be repatriated will not be arrested as long as they have the necessary documents.

Analysts say that there could be more than 100,000 Filipino OFWs who might face jail or deportation if the inspectors catch them without valid documents. Violators will be fined up to SR100, 000, two years in prison, or both for repeat offenders. The “freelancers” or individuals found working on their own, even with the permission of their sponsors will also be considered as violators. Their sponsors will also be fined.
Vice President Jejomar Binay, presidential adviser for Overseas Filipino Workers’ concerns had already sent a letter to King Abdullah to appeal for an extension of the amnesty but the latter has yet to respond.
Lito Soriano, a migration and recruitment consultant said that as of December 2012, there are 108,000 irregular or undocumented Filipinos in Saudi Arabia. According to him, because of “Saudization”, the Saudi government is determined to weed out anyone who is illegally working in the kingdom.
Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr said that the Philippine government is already taking all possible actions that can help in the repatriation process. Since the implementation of the new immigration law, around 4,371 OFWs have already returned home and 9000 have already been given travel documents and around 1,500 are just waiting for their clearances from the immigration office.

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