Measures are in place to address plight of OFWs
affected by Saudization policy, DOLE-7 says
by Fayette C. Riñen
CEBU CITY, July 13 (PIA) -- The Middle East including the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is the biggest market employer for our overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) but that the necessary interventions are in place in case the Saudization policy is strictly implemented.
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) here said that measures are already being undertaken to mitigate the impact of the Saudization policy and that displaced OFWs can always avail of various government programs provided for them such as their ‘Balik-Pinay! Balik Hanapbuhay.”
Labor Sec. Rosalinda Baldoz earlier said appropriate measures are already undertaken to address the plight of Filipino displaced workers affected by the ‘Saudization’ policy.
Baldoz however, said the policy is not new and has already existed for years now.
Saudization refers to the policy of the KSA to encourage employment of its nationals in the private sector, which is largely dominated by expatirate workers from Southeast Asia since 2006. The KSA Government has enacted policies to promote Saudization and issued warnings to companies that fail to comply with the policy.
Other alternative livelihood programs for displaced OFWs will be discussed during the Kapihan sa PIA on Wednesday next week, July 20 that will tackle the topic on “Government Interventions for Repatriated OFWs to Mitigate the Impact of the Saudization Policy.”
Also up for discussion are job opportunities for the affected OFWs in other countries and other government incentives or benefits that they can avail.
Featured panelists are the top regional officials of DOLE, Philippine Overseas Employment Administration and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration.