Saudi suspends crackdown vs undocumented workers

MANILA, Philippines - Saudi Arabia has agreed to extend the grace period and suspend the crackdown against undocumented workers, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said yesterday.

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said an estimated 10,000 undocumented Filipino workers in Saudi Arabia would benefit from the move to extend the grace period and suspend for four more months the crackdown on illegal migrants.

Baldoz said the Saudi government extended the amnesty period until Nov. 3 to allow all undocumented Filipino workers and other illegal migrants sufficient time to legalize their stay in the kingdom.

“Whether they will choose to continue working there or return home, they have now more time to process the necessary documents,” Baldoz said.

Baldoz said more than half of the estimated 10,000 undocumented Filipinos in Saudi want to stay and continue working.

She said this would not be a problem since many Arab employers wanted to hire and sponsor Filipino workers.

Those workers who have employers and sponsors can legalize their stay.

Baldoz said the remaining 4,000 illegal Filipino migrants who wanted to go home would just continue processing their documents.

She said about 1,000 illegal Filipino migrants have already secured exit clearances and can return home anytime.

Vice President Jejomar Binay thanked the Saudi Arabia government for extending the grace period for undocumented workers. – With Pia Lee-Brago, Jose Rodel Clapano