No ban on hiring Filipino workers

RIYADH: The Saudi Labor Ministry has denied that it has issued an order banning the recruitment of Filipino workers, with the Philippine government issuing an assurance that the labor pact between the two nations remains in place.
Ezzedin H. Tago, the Philippines' ambassador, told Arab New in a telephone interview on Monday that nothing had changed between the two countries. The Saudi ministry had issued a statement possibly in reaction to some report in local media, he said.
Tayseer Al-Mufrej, spokesman for the Ministry of Labor, said that the Kingdom has not stopped issuing visas for domestic workers from the Philippines. The two countries were working on improving hiring procedures, he said.
He said Saudi Arabia and the Philippines have started implementing aspects of the labor pact signed recently, which includes evaluating and monitoring hiring firms. The accord includes incentives for good performance and penalties for violations, he said.
Al-Mufrej said that an electronic system has been put in place to streamline the hiring process to ensure transparency and accountability, which includes the exchange of data and completing contracts.
He said Saudi Arabia has signed labor agreements with several other countries, with clauses that would tackle various problems including costs and training of workers.
He said the Kingdom has launched initiatives to protect the rights of workers and employers. This includes measures to ensure that workers are aware of Saudi cultural norms. Workers can now lay complaints in Arabic, English, Urdu, Hindi, Bahasa Indonesian, Tagalog, Amharic, Malay and Bengali.
The agreement requires workers not to have criminal records, no infectious diseases, and with medical certificates issued by certified health centers. Saudi employers must ensure a proper and safe working environment, written contracts, salaries paid into bank accounts and annual leave, Al-Mufrej said.