Saudi bars vacationing OFWs from returning

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MANILA, Philippines - The government of Saudi Arabia has reportedly barred Filipino workers from returning to the kingdom after their vacation in the Philippines.

John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-Middle East coordinator, said they received reports that since last week Saudi immigration authorities have been stamping “exit only” on visas of departing overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) going to their vacation in the Philippines.

Monterona said that OFWs with “exit only” visas might no longer be allowed to re-enter Saudi Arabia despite the fact that they were just going on vacation.

“There were four OFW-engineers who have called me in Riyadh and they expressed surprised that their respective exit/re-entry visa had been stamped ‘exit’ only by the Saudi immigration officer at the counter,” Monterona said.

He said the employers gave the OFWs exit and re-entry visas yet immigration officials still stamped “exit only” on their visas and gave no explanation.

Monterona said there were several other instances of vacationing OFWs and their families who were also given “exit only” visas when they arrived at the airport.

“We reported that matter to Labor Attaché Albert Valenciano in Riyadh, who was also surprised with the move of Saudi immigration,” Monterona added.

Monterona said the latest developments only showed the seriousness of the Saudi government in implementing the so-called Saudization program, which required companies to limit the number of foreign workers.

Due to the Saudi’s action, local recruitment industry yesterday reported that many OFWs are now opting to postpone their vacation and reluctant to return to the Philippines at this time.

Recruitment officials said about 30,000 to 50,000 OFWs are supposed to go on vacation to the country in the next five months.

“Many middle level Filipino workers whose families are in Saudi Arabia fear that their positions are vulnerable as their management and clerical jobs may be filled up by qualified jobless Saudi nationals,” recruiters said.

Although there were only OFWs, particularly the highly skilled who believed that their positions required specialized skills and thus they could not be immediately replaced.

The government officials said they are still assessing the possible impact of the Saudization program and programs are already in place to help those to be affected.