New MOU May Reopen Saudi to Filipino Household Service Workers

 According to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Undersecretary, Danilo Cruz Saudi Arabia may hire Filipino household service workers (HSWs) again. This would be possible after the signing of the new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Saudi Arabia and the Philippines.

Cruz said, "We will immediately sign an MOU and agree on a model employment contract that will be implemented in Saudi Arabia."

Saudi Arabia suspended the processing, verification and authentication of deployment contracts of Filipino HSWs when the Philippine government set a USD400/month minimum salary for HSWs.

The Undersecretary said, "From all indications, Saudi Arabia will allow now the verification of the employment contract of household workers which will automatically lift the restriction na inimpose nila and we can soon deploy HSWs there."

Rosalida Baldoz, DOLE chief said that OFWs will gain more protection in the new contract. 

The DOLE chief said, "We saw to it that the provisions or the rights and principles in the convention are also reflected on the standard employment contract."