Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) secretary Rosalinda Baldoz visited Saudi Arabia to sign agreement for domestic helpers and discuss other employment concerns of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) with the Saudi Ministry of Labor.

During her visit, Saudi labor officials introduce 10 accredited mega recruitment agencies that can recruit and deploy workers to Saudi Arabia “in bulk”. The 10 mega recruitment agencies which are based in their country are:

1.    Saudi Manpower Services Co.

2.    International Recruitment Co.

3.    Manpower Services Company

4.    Al Jazeerah Support Services Co.

5.    Sawaeed Employment Co.

6.    Mawarid Co.

7.    National Recruitment Company

8.    Al Mutahidah Company

9.    Al Mahara Oil Field and Recruitment Services

10. First National Company.

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) said that these recruitment agencies can deploy foreign workers to private and public companies and individual employers in accordance with Saudi labor laws.

"The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said that the Ministry of Labor will normally issue to the 10 'mega' recruitment companies group working visas in bulk. This will facilitate the recruitment process to the benefit of our OFWs," Baldoz said.

The responsibilities of the 10 companies include:

·          

·         Completing the regulatory procedures for obtaining the residence permits or iqama of foreign workers going to Saudi Arabia

·         Bearing responsibility for the worker the moment he or she arrives in the Kingdom

·         Orienting workers on Saudi rules and regulations and training them

·         Guaranteeing foreign workers' entire financial benefits and rights until their return to their country of origin

·         Guaranteeing workers' access and contact to their families and deploying agencies

·         Guaranteeing the workers' monthly salaries through the opening of bank accounts

·         Deploying workers in accordance with their contracts duly attested by the Saudi Ministry of Labor to protect the rights of the workers, employers, and recruitment agencies.

·         Providing the workers with accommodation until they are fetched by their employers.

"I am very gratified about this very positive development in the recruitment and deployment of workers to Saudi Arabia, which is a demonstration of its commitment and resolve to decent and productive work," Baldoz added.

Job Openings in Saudi Arabia for Filipinos