Saudi defers imposing new hiring policy

The Saudi government has deferred the implementation of a new visa issuance regulation in an apparent effort to hire more highly skilled Filipino workers, local recruiters reported yesterday.

Philippine Association of Service Exporters Inc. (PASEI) president Victor Fernandez said the embassy of Saudi Arabia has agreed to postpone the implementation of the new visa issuance regulation for another 30 days.

“After meeting with Philippine government officials, Ambassador Mohammed Ameen Wali agreed to defer the implementation of the unified contract scheme until after the 30-day Ramadan period,” Fernandez disclosed.

Under the so-called “unified contract scheme,” overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are required to get the services of Saudi-based recruitment agencies before they can secure working visas.

The Philippine government and the local recruitment industry are strongly against the new scheme, which they claimed could adversely affect the hiring of Filipino workers to Saudi Arabia.

According to Fernandez, the local recruitment industry welcomed the decision of the Saudi government because the proposed scheme needs further study and discussion between the two governments.

But Fernandez said the government should pursue the permanent suspension of the unified contract scheme to ensure the employment of more highly skilled Filipino workers in Saudi.

Earlier, the local recruitment industry threatened to cease from deploying Filipino workers to the Kingdom, if the Saudi embassy would implement the new visa issuance regulation.

Saudi employs 1.5 million OFWs and the number is projected to reach 1.8 million by yearend. – Mayen Jaymalin