DOLE: Saudization not affecting much OFWs

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Labor and Employment says there is nothing to be alarmed in the “Saudization Policy” that the Saudi Government has implemented because it has not affected much our Overseas Filipino Workers.

DOLE-7 acting director Exequiel Sarcauga said they have not received any significant impact on the policy to OFWs particularly those coming from the region.

“Duna’y gamay’ng epekto but not alarming. Duna sila’y guidelines,” Sarcauga said during the Kapihan sa PIA yesterday.

Philippine Overseas Employment Administration Information Officer Fenita Berdon said there is no single OFW, so far, that has come to their office to claim that he or she is affected of the policy.

Berdon said that in fact, from January to June 30 this year, there were 20,800 workers who exited the Mactan Cebu International Airport alone to work abroad, most of them in Saudi Arabia, the top destination of OFWs.

Of the figure, 13,765 are from other provinces in Central Visayas while 10,381 are from Cebu.

Sarcuaga said in case an OFW is affected, the policy allows OFW to transfer to another compliant company as long as it has an allocation to hire foreign workers.

Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA)-7 director Wilfreda Misterio also said that if an OFW is given an exit visa and is really required to go home, the government will assist them to get local employment.

Sarcauga said DOLE has existing programs that provide assistance to displaced OFWs such as referring them to local placements or to the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority to further their skills for another overseas deployment.

The DOLE-7 chief added that they can also refer the displaced OFWs to the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) for job vacancies abroad.

Misterio said that they just launched the ‘Balik Pinay! Balik Hanap Buhay!’ Program, which provides various skills training to OFWs.

Misterio said their OFW Reintegration Program also provides livelihood loans not only for displaced OFWs but also to those who want to come back and start their own business here.

“We have two loan facilities where OFWs can avail of. The first is through the Visayas Cooperative Fund for the case of Cebu where OFWs can avail of a loan amount of P50,000 at the least and a maximum loan amount of P200,000,” she said.

Thousands of Filipinos working in Saudi Arabia are on the brink of being displaced because of the policy which is implemented until August 30.

Under the Saudization Policy, private companies in Saudi Arabia, depending on its classification, are only allowed a certain percentage to hire foreign workers giving the rest of its job allocation to its own nationals.

Sarcauga said private companies that have only nine employees are exempted from the policy while small establishments that hire 10 to 49 workers shall reserve 24 percent of its job positions to foreign workers.

He further said medium-sized companies with 50 to 499 employees are obliged to hire 27 percent of its work force their own nationals and 30 percent for large-scale companies with 500 or more employees. — (FREEMAN)