Philippine Embassy Statement on Visas for HSWs

The Philippine Embassy in Riyadh has learned through print media about the Saudi ban on stoppage of work visas for domestic workers from the Philippines which will be implemented effective 2 July 2011 as announced by the Saudi Ministry of Labor.

As of 1 July, the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh has not received any official notice on the matter from the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Ministry of Labor.  The Embassy has sought a meeting with Saudi officials to confirm the parameters of this pronounced policy by the Ministry of Labor Spokesperson Mr. Hattab Al Anzi.

The Philippine Embassy has also received questions on whether the new policy would negatively affect Filipino HSWs already working and whose iqamas are subject for renewal or are going on vacation and would return.  The Philippine Embassy shall seek proper clarification on this issue from the Ministry of Labor.

The Philippine Embassy in Riyadh clarifies that the processing, verification and authentication of contracts of household service workers has been suspended since March this year following an instruction from the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs and pending mutual agreement on the requirements for verification and terms and conditions of the contracts.

A Philippine – Saudi joint technical committee met in Manila on 24-27 April this year.  The Saudi delegation was headed by Assistant Deputy Minister of Labor H.E. Mr. Hashim Rajeh.