New PH-Saudi Arabia labor deal underway

Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) Party List Rep. Marissa Magsino said the Philippines was due to forge a new labor deal with Saudi Arabia in October.

Magsino said that based on interviews, Saudi Arabia, despite being a top OFW destination, was among the host countries with the hardest working conditions.

«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», Magsino said in a statement.

Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) Party List Rep. Marissa Magsino

She said the negotiation for a new bilateral labor agreement for both general/skilled workers and domestic/household service workers in October would tackle the issue.

Magsino vowed to seek an increase in household service workers' salary, which has been at $400 since 2012.

There are currently 864,000 Filipinos in Saudi Arabia.

Advertisement