In relation to the resumption and normalization of the recruitment and deployment of Household Service Workers (HSWs) in Saudi Arabia, the Philippine Association of Service Exporters, Inc. (PASEI), has sent various proposals to the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA). The proposals of PASEI seek to promote the interest, welfare and protection of the HSWs who will be recruited and deployed to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Composed of more than 650 members, the PASEI is the biggest and single landbased association of legitimate overseas employment service providers (OESPs) that are all licensed by POEA.

The president of PASEI, Victor Fernandez communicated and explained their groups’ proposal through several letters addressed to POEA Administrator Hans Leo J. Cacdac.

One of their proposals is the adoption of the No-Read, No Write policy where applicants who are illiterate will not be allowed to work in Saudi Arabia.

In the letter, PASEI President Victor E.R. Fernandez Jr. explained that their proposal is in line with the guidelines issued by the Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Manila regarding the procedural requirements for visas that are to be followed by accredited recruitment agencies.

In the guidelines issued by the Embassy, Item 13 states the following, “The prevailing rules and regulations in the Kingdom disallow anyone who cannot read and write to enter the Kingdom to work.”

Another letter communicates their various proposals that are expected to benefits the HSWS. They are the following:

• To require foreign employers to procure high-grade medical insurance with in-patient benefits for the HSW.

• To encourage OWWA to study and experiment with OWWA Membership Automatic Renewal Loan (OMAR-Loan).

• To put up “HOTLINE” or “TXT LINE” and to produce “SURVIVAL KIT BOOKLET” for distribution to departing HSWs.

• For POLO to require foreign employers to provide copy of their iqama.

• To hold Assessment Centers and Assessors liable and responsible for passing and granting NC-II Certification to unqualified HSWs.

• To put up “Free online Counseling for OFWs” service.

• For POLO to direct foreign employers to renew the HSW’s PHILHEALTH, OWWA Membership, Mandatory Insurance Coverage when HSW renews his/her contract of employment.

PASEI is hoping that their proposal will be considered when POEA drafts the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) that will govern the recruitment and deployment of HSWs to Saudi Arabia.

Fernandez said, “We believe, that aligning our recruitment rules and regulations with this clear and publicly announced policy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will be beneficial to our HSWs and protective of HSWs we will allow deployment.”