MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Embassy in Riyadh said there is no truth to allegations that returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are being barred from entering the Middle East country.
In a statement, the embassy advised OFWs not to believe in the “unconfirmed stories” of vacationing workers who are encountering problems with the immigration counter in the Riyadh airport.
“Allegedly, the immigration officer at the airport stamped ‘exit only’ on the exit/re-entry visas of the workers. As a result, OFWs are now having second thoughts of going on vacation,” the Embassy said.
The embassy said that Mohammad Al-Hussein, the spokesman for the Passport Department in the Makkah province, had already denied the reports.
“There is absolutely no truth to it. If it is an exit/re-entry visa, then it cannot be changed at the airports,” Al-Hussein had said.
Al-Hussein added that a series of steps will have to be taken by the employee and the employer before the “final exit” can be stamped.
The embassy also said that vacationing workers should keep in contact with their employers in case they encounter problems in the Riyadh airport.
It also clarified that the ban on the issuance of work visas for domestic workers applies only to new work visas. Household service workers with valid work visas already in Saudi Arabia can continue to work with their present employers.
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) had earlier debunked the “final exit” rumors as well, with Labor Undersecretary Danilo Cruz saying that it takes a long process before an exit stamp is made.
“Mahabang proseso ito, hindi rin ginagawa ang exit stamp sa airport kung hindi sa passport division ng ministry of interior,” Cruz said.
But Migrante-Middle East, the migrants’ rights group that first reported the ‘final exit’ stories, are standing by the reports they received from OFWs.
“We are sticking with the reports… received from vacationing OFWs,” said Migrante-Middle East coordinator John Leonard Monterona in a statement. “We have been receiving the same reports from Pakistani migrant leaders.”
Monterona said his group does not intend to alarm the Filipino community. He added members have already set up a ‘Sagip Migrante’ hotline which aims to assist displaced or terminated OFWs.
Monterona is also calling on DOLE to prepare “safety nets” for the OFWs who will be affected by the Saudization policy. With a report from Jasmin Romero, ABS-CBN News
September 18 –
International Equal Pay Day
“Increase wages now,
more than other cost items.
For widespread, practical equality!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the recommendations of the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry
against serious violations of protocols of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association.
Accept the National Unity Government (NUG)
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October –
Monthly Observances:
Industry and Commerce Safety Month
National Statistics Month
Local Government Month
Consumer Welfare Month
Cooperative Month
National Quality and Productivity Improvement Month
National Health and Wellness Tourism Month
National Indigenous Peoples Month
Weekly Observances:
Week 1: Elderly Filipino Week
Week 2: National Health Education Week
Local Government Week
National Mental Health Week
October 17-23:
National Week for Overcoming Extreme Poverty
October 18 – 24:
United Nations Week
Last Week:
Nurses’ Week
Consumers’ Protection Week
Week of the 4th Sunday:
Barrio Farmers’ Week
Daily Observances:
First Monday (Oct 4): Universal Children’s Day i
n the Philippines
Oct 5: National Teachers’ Day
Oct 10: Local Government Day
Third Thursday (Oct 14): Conflict Resolution Day
Oct 21: Tenants’ Emancipation day
Oct 24: United Nations Day
Oct 29: National Indigenous People’s Thanksgiving Day
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