OFWs with New Employers Can Still Correct Work Status

Filipinos working in Saudi Arabia who failed to correct their work status within the amnesty period and are currently working for a new employer are still allowed to legalize or correct their documents. According to the Labor Department, overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Saudi who fits the above description category can apply for transfer of sponsors or employers, as well as for change of work categories or titles, despite the end of the grace period last 3 November 2013.

The Labor Secretary, Rosalinda Baldoz said that a report from Labor Attache’ to Jeddah Jainal Rasul states that the Saudi Ministry of Labor still allows correction and legalization of work status, as long as employers who wish to sponsor foreign workers transferring to their companies have already complied with the Saudization requirements.

She added, “The Saudi Labor Ministry, however, has emphasized that correction of work status at this point entails payment of fines and penalties for the delay in legalizing foreign workers’ status,” said Baldoz.

Repatriated OFWs Can Re-Apply to Saudi

Baldoz also reported that the nearly 39,000 undocumented Filipinos who were repatriated during the amnesty period are still welcome to return and find jobs in Saudi.

Apparently, most of the workers who returned to the Philippines during the correction period are those whose employment contracts have expired. However, former OFWs who left Saudi during the amnesty but have derogatory records would not be allowed to return.

Baldoz further informed that Filipinos in Saudi who are yet to complete deportation procedures are given legal assistance by the Philippine government.

Since many Filipinos were able to regularize their status and others were able to go home, she is confident that the Saudi’s crackdown on illegal migrants would not have a huge negative effect to the employment rate of the Philippines.

She said, “The Saudi government and the Philippines have good relations, so we are not expecting problems with the crackdown.”