At least 33 undocumented Filipino workers were apprehended in a series of intensified crackdown by Saudi authorities on illegal migrants in the Middle East state despite the issuance of amnesty for overstaying aliens.
Citing a report from the Philippine Labor Overseas Office in Al-Khobar, migrant worker group Migrante said those arrested were 27 women and six men.
Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator John Leonard Monterona said Saudi authorities started raiding various accommodations of foreign migrant workers on suspicion that they are overstaying and undocumented expatriates.
On Tuesday night, a composite team from Jawasat police and Mutawa or cultural police started the crackdown by raiding apartments and houses at Tukbah, Al-Khobar, where suspected undocumented migrants, including Filipinos, are staying.
“We appeal to the Saudi government to respect the rights of undocumented migrants, including Filipino workers,” Monterona said.
It was not clear why the arrests were made despite the amnesty.
The Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila and the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh are currently verifying this information, but assured that consular assistance will be provided to the arrested Filipinos.
Last September, the Saudi Arabian government announced a six-month amnesty for illegal foreigners overstaying their visas, saying they would be allowed to leave the Kingdom without punishment.
The amnesty covers Haj pilgrims or other foreigners holding any other type of visas which had expired, or violated passport department regulations.
Those who will avail of the amnesty must report to the nearest Department for Foreign Affairs from Sept. 25, 2010 to March 23, 2011.
Violators caught after this grace period will receive severe punishment, including jail time and heavy fines. –Michaela P. del Callar, Daily Tribune
June 2025
Philippine Environment Month!
“Action for Nature, for the Future!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry recommendations
against serious violations of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association protocols.
Accept National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar. Reject Military!
#WearMask #WashHands #Distancing #TakePicturesVideosturesVideos
Monthly Observances:
1 Jun – World Day of Parents
5 Jun – World Environment Day
7 Jun – World Food Safety Day
8 Jun – World Oceans Day
12 Jun – World Day Against
Child Labour
15 Jun – World Elder Abuse Awareness Day
16 Jun – International Day of Family Remittances
17 Jun – World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought
20 Jun – World Refugee Day
25 Jun – Day of the Seafarer
27 Jun – Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Day
Daily Observances:
First Saturday of July:
International Cooperative Day
in the Philippines
