DESPITE being the number one destination of Overseas Filipino workers, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is considered as one of the host countries with the hardest working conditions.
This was revealed by the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) themselves during a town-hall meeting and dialogue organized by OFW Party List and the Philippine Embassy.
OFW Party List Representative Marissa ‘Del Mar’ Magsino assured the OFWs that the Philippine government is set to negotiate for a new Bilateral Labor Agreements for both General/Skilled Workers and Domestic/Household Service Workers with Saudi Arabia and will take place in October 2024.
Magsino was also informed that aside from the difficult working conditions, OFWs also face challenges with their mental health due to limited social activities among their fellow OFWs because of difference in religion practices, as well as political and diplomatic reasons.
“Unlike their counterparts in other countries who enjoy a weekly day-off where they spend a whole day of fun, unwinding and relaxing, workers in Saudi Arabia are unable to do so due to the lack of access to public mass transport. They are without means to fund personal transportation; thus, they have fewer opportunities to socialize outside of work. They also stay at their employer’s house or at their workplace, and so they are tasked to continue working even on their supposed rest days. Hindi lang ito nakakapagod physically, kung hindi emotionally and mentally din,” Magsino said.
She added that she will look for ways to help OFWs have wider pathways for mental health services such as access to state-sponsored counselors and trained suicide-hotline operators via toll free number.
She also vowed to ask for increase of household service workers’ salary, which has remained at $400.00 since 2012.
“Just imagine with all the inflation and taxes imposed by the Saudi government, the OFWs are left with a small amount for them to send to their families and, mostly, they cannot save money,” Magsino said.
On the other hand, the party list lawmaker noted that the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh, currently headed by Chargé d’ Affaires Rommel Romato, and the Migrant Workers Offices in Riyadh and Jeddah, managed by Labor Attache Antonio Mutuc and Labor Attache Hector Cruz, are efficient and responsive in addressing the needs of OFWs and OFs in Saudi Arabia.
The embassy itself, owned by the Philippines, is also well-maintained and spacious enough to accommodate all Filipinos visiting them for consular or welfare services. The Migrant Workers Office shelter was also inspected by Rep. Magsino and she remarked how clean, spacious, and well-equipped it is to provide the daily needs of distressed OFWs.
“Although the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is considered a hardship post by our ASEAN neighbors, I saw the diligence, commitment, and intentionality of our officials and personnel in the Philippine Embassy and attached agencies in protecting the rights and promoting the welfare of our kababayans. Saludo ako sa kanila. Sila mismo ay maituturing na OFWs, mga makabagong bayani, dahil nagsisilbi sila sa bayan nang napakalayo sa pamilya,” said Magsino.
The Commission on Elections is also set to conduct a training on internet voting, another advocacy of Magsino, in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Currently there are 864,000 Filipinos in Saudi Arabia.
