The Philippines is set to negotiate a new labor agreement with Saudi Arabia this October, according to OFWs Party List Rep. Marissa Magsino. The negotiation aims to address the challenging working conditions faced by Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in Saudi Arabia, which remains one of the top destinations for Filipino workers.
Magsino highlighted the difficulties faced by OFWs in Saudi Arabia, noting that they often miss out on the leisure activities enjoyed by their counterparts in other countries due to limited access to public transportation and personal transportation funds. “Unlike their counterparts in other countries who enjoy a weekly day off where they spend a whole day of fun, unwinding and relaxing, workers in Saudi Arabia are unable to do so due to the lack of access to public mass transport. They are without means to fund personal transportation; thus, they have fewer opportunities to socialize outside of work,” Magsino said in a statement.
The upcoming bilateral labor agreement will address these issues, covering both general and skilled workers as well as domestic and household service workers. One of the key points Magsino intends to negotiate is an increase in the salary of household service workers, which has remained stagnant at $400 since 2012.
Currently, there are approximately 864,000 Filipinos working in Saudi Arabia, and this new agreement aims to improve their working conditions and overall quality of life.