Despite a ruling that penalizes firms in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) for hiring more foreign workers than their own citizens, Filipinos are expected to continue flocking to that country for jobs.
An Arab News article on Wednesday quoted Philippine Ambassador to the KSA Ezzedin Tago as saying he expects “hardworking and efficient” Filipinos to continue trooping into KSA because of the diverse economic opportunities there.
“I think Filipinos will come here to work although there are efforts to include more Saudis in the local work force,” he told Arab News in an interview.
Tago noted that various infrastructure projects in KSA give Filipinos opportunities to work there not just as laborers "but also design engineers, architects and others in related fields."
The report also mentioned praises for Filipinos given by KSA politicians, such as Madinah province governor Prince Faisal bin Salman and Riyadh Gov. Prince Khaled bin Bandar, both of whom acknowledged the help Filipinos contributed to their country’s development.
According to the 2011 Stock Estimate of Overseas Filipinos done by the Commission on Filipinos Overseas, there were around 1,530,218 Pinoy workers in KSA.
Saudi was also listed there as the second top destination country of Filipinos.
In December, Reuters reported that KSA had begun imposing fees on local firms that hire more foreign workers than local.
The report said that as of November 15 last year, private sector employers who hire more foreigners than Saudis must pay a fee of 2,400 riyals ($640) a year for each additional expatriate when they renew an expat's one-year residency permit.
The rule does not cover foreigners with Saudi mothers or nationals of other Gulf states.
The report quoted a Labor Ministry spokesman as saying that there were no plans to reverse or amend the decision.
Administrator Hans Cacdac of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration recently reminded Filipinos applying for jobs abroad to keep in mind the steps to avoid falling victim to illegal recruiters and recruitment.
Cacdac recommended that applicants keep an eye out for one or more of the following signs of illegal recruitment:
-- the agency asks for immediate payment even if you have concrete job offer yet
-- it has no headquarters, or the recruiters conduct house-to-house recruitment
-- they like to show pictures of beautiful houses, cars, or land titles, and tell you the same fate awaits you if you work with them
He said it is wise to check the list of licensed recruiters through the POEA, the Department of Labor and Employment, or the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration.
Potential applicants can also call agency hotlines for questions or verification, as well as check the POEA website . - Gian C. Geronimo, VVP, GMA News
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