MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / July 3, 2013) – Saudi Arabia has extended its ultimatum for illegal migrants and workers until November this year and Philippine officials urged Filipinos to take advantage of this and return home.
Officials also advised undocumented Filipinos to take advantage of this extension and immediately proceed to concerned Saudi government agencies or seek the assistance of the Philippine Embassy and Consulate in Saudi Arabia for their repatriation or the regularization of their status.
Philippine Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Ezzedin Tago has informed the Department of Foreign Affairs that King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz ordered the extension until November 3.
The Department of Foreign Affairs also released to the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner the Saudi Press Agency announcement issued by the Ministry of Interior.
It said: “With reference to the Royal Order allowing for workers who violated the labor and iqama laws a period of three months starting from 25/5/1434H to correct their status, and based on the recommendations of ministries (Foreign Affairs, Labor, and Interior) regarding full cooperation and quick response of citizens and residents, and in view of the full cooperation of concerned Embassies and Consulates to provide the required documentation and their requests due to the pressure on their missions, and as a result of the large number of those who are seeking correction of their status who need more time, and in order to make it easier on citizens and residents who have taken the correction period seriously, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdul bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud has ordered the extension of the correction period until the end of the current Hejira year 1434.”
“The appropriate inspections will resume in various regions of the Kingdom starting from the first of Muharram 1435H and all penalties will apply on violators. The Ministries of Interior and Labor urge all concerned to work on the requirements to correct their status as soon as possible and within the period mentioned, and whoever will not respond will be subject to maximum penalties in accordance with regulations.”
Manila praised the Saudi king for extending the grace period, saying “this humanitarian gesture has brought relief to our overseas Filipino workers who would like to go home or legalize their stay in the Kingdom.”
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