Advisory issued to Filipinos for job, residency visa permits in Saudi

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Advisory issued to Filipinos for job, residency visa permits in Saudi

This will also affect applicants awaiting permits.

According to a new advisory, overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in 35 skill categories in Saudi Arabia will be affected as they will be unable to renew their residence permit.

This will also affect applicants awaiting permits as no permits will be issued for the said positions.

According to GMA News Online, a separate 24 Oras report stated that among those affected are OFWs working as pharmacists, security guards, and office employees working in human resources.

According to data from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, over 300,000 OFWs who started working in the Kingdom in 2017 and 2018 will be affected as their contracts will expire. OFWs in Saudi Arabia are usually issued two-year residence permits.

Further, the new advisory also includes the 35 to 54 year old age bracket, however, the POEA is yet to conform whether all skill categories involving the age bracket will be affected.

The Philippines' Department of Labor and Employment has offered to provide those OFWs who are set to lose their jobs, financial and livelihood assistance and a referral program to another country. The department also advised Filipino workers against staying in Saudi Arabia illegally, as it would lead to blacklisting and other complications for the OFW and for the Philippine government.