PH, Saudi Arabia strengthen labor reforms cooperation

By Prince Golez

The Philippines and Saudi Arabia on Sunday reaffirmed a shared commitment to advance cooperation aimed at ensuring the protection of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the kingdom.

Presidential Assistant on Foreign Affairs Robert Eric Borje and Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD) Minister Ahmad Sulaiman Al Rajhi pledged to work more closely

to highlight significant advancements in labor reform and fair migration.

In a statement, Borje said President Rodrigo Duterte welcomed Saudi Arabia’s launching of the Labor Reform Initiative (LRI), describing it as a “significant step” towards addressing issues with the existing sponsorship system common across the Middle East countries.

The Special Envoy expressed confidence that the LRI will raise the productivity and competitiveness of the labor market in Saudi Arabia.

He stressed the Philippines’ commitment to work with Saudi Arabia in implementing its LRI, especially those that advance the rights and welfare of migrant workers, recognizing the benefits for key labor sectors in the kingdom, including labor mobility.

Borje also sought the Al Rajhi’s support for other Philippine initiatives to better serve the needs of OFWs in the Arab country. These include the ongoing repatriation program for distressed Filipinos in relation to the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as efforts to further strengthen the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh and Philippine Consulate-General in Jeddah and make consular services more accessible to Filipinos in the Kingdom.

The Filipino official also underscored the need to address fundamental issues to all migrant workers in the kingdom such as harnessing technology to improve access to labor sector services, protection of wages, and automation of recruitment processes.

Meanwhile, both countries are looking forward to the Joint Commission Meeting and showed eagerness to sign a Memorandum of Understanding on labor, based on the LRI reforms.

Borje also expressed optimism that Philippine-Saudi Arabia relations would continue to grow beyond labor cooperation as there are areas which could benefit from growth, and these include trade and investment.

The meeting with the MHRSD minister is part of the program for Philippine delegation’s official visit to Saudi Arabia, anchored on Duterte’s commitment to protect the rights and promote the welfare of OFWs.

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Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)