Consulate adopts new system to help Filipino workers

The Philippine Consulate in Jeddah has launched a new system to facilitate the processing of paperwork of illegal Filipino workers who either want to be repatriated to the Philippines or who wish to rectify their status and continue working in the Kingdom before the July 3 deadline.
“We now have a system in place that serves an optimal number of compatriots seeking repatriation or rectification of their status within the grace period, which ends on July 3,” said Consul General Uriel Norman Garibay.
The consulate has set apart regular work from those involving Filipino workers who want to be repatriated to the Philippines and those who want to stay and continue working in the Kingdom after rectifying their status.
“Those who want to be repatriated are immediately given travel documents so they can go to the Passports Department to obtain their final-exit visas,” he said.
He added that the consulate will also release the passports of Filipinos surrendered by the Passports Department so that they can rectify their work status or transfer to other sponsors.
“What we do is revalidate their passports for one year so that they have enough time to look for new sponsors and comply with the July 3 deadline to rectify their status,” he said. The new system came in response to huge demand for the transfer of sponsorship.
Some 8,000 Filipinos are seeking assistance from the consulate to rectify their status or be repatriated to the Philippines. The consulate serves 700 citizens daily.