Deployment Deal Between PH, Saudi Pushed

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A GROUP of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) on Sunday pushed for the establishment of a government-to-government deployment arrangement to fully address the labor row between the Philippines and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).

In a statement, the Migrante-Middle East (MME) said it would be best to simply establish a government-to-government deal so that all concerns of both parties would be completely addressed.

“It is time for the Aquino government to seriously find ways to solve, if not diminish, incidents of abuses and rampant labor malpractices involving OFW by inking a government-to-government deployment arrangement of domestic workers in view of providing them real protection,” said MME coordinator John Leonard Monterona.

Monterona said it would be a better arrangement for the OFWs especially since it involves the arguably number one foreign employer of Filipinos.

“For instance, the repatriation of thousands of stranded and distress OFWs in Saudi and other mid-east countries could be dealt best by both -- the sending and receiving-host governments -- stranded OFWs’ repatriation can’t be relied on erring and negligent recruitment agencies,” he said.

Records of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) show that there are more than a million OFWs working in the KSA most of which are employed as engineers, nurses or hospital workers, accountants, office workers, construction workers, restaurant workers, and maids.

Last March, the Saudi government stopped processing the hiring of OFW household service workers as Saudi employers protested the requirements imposed by the Philippine government such as the minimum wage and worker protection.

The contested requirements were imposed back in 2006 when current Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz was still the POEA chief. (AMN/Sunnex)