MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / Nov. 6, 2013) – Filipino migrants’ group Migrante has urged the Aquino government to stop ‘labor export’ to Saudi Arabia and instead invest in local job generation through genuine agrarian reform and national industrialization.
John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-Middle East and North Africa coordinator, said Saudi’s Nitaqat scheme has left with little room for overseas Filipino workers in the Arab state which is now intensifying its own local workers over foreigners.
“Since the re-intensification of Saudization in 2010 through Nitaqat scheme, Saudi Arabia’s protectionist labor program that aims to localize Saudi’s labor market made available to the growing numbers of unemployed and underemployed Saudis, we have conservatively estimated around 120,000 OFWs sent back home directly affected by Saudization,” Monterona said in a statement sent to the Mindanao Examiner.
Monterona said the number of OFWs affected by Saudization is expected to increase as the Saudi authorities resumed crack down on undocumented migrant workers since November 4, a day after the deadline imposed by Saudi for overstaying migrants to either correct their status or leave the country.
“Aside from an estimated 7,000 to 10,000 stranded OFWs who are seeking government assistance for repatriation since April 2013, there are some 40,000 to 60,000 documented OFWs in Saudi Arabia who will be either directly or indirectly affected by Saudization, especially those working in sales, marketing, banking, and other office-based job categories which will soon be occupied by Saudis,” he said.
Monterona said Saudi is gradually phasing out its labor importation.
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