Migrant Workers Secretary Susan Toots Ople assures that they are making a recalibrated decision on the deployment ban to newly hired household workers to Saudi Arabia.
Ople said that they have to make sure that OFWs will be protected before lifting the ban despite the clamor of recruitment agencies.
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“Hindi sa nagkakait kami ng pagkakataon ng trabaho meron din namang ibang merkado o dito makahanap kayo ng trabaho. Pero sa naghihintay na magbukas ang Saudi market meron kaming moral at legal obligation na tiyakin na lahat ng uri ng proteksyon at mapagkaloob sayo,” Ople said in a media interview.
Ople said that they are prioritizing the welfare and safety of OFWs and business interests. The statement was made amid news that Indonesia and Thailand workers are also entering the Saudi labor market.
READ ON: Ople to prioritize OFWs’ safety on plans to lift deployment ban to Saudi Arabia
“Napakabigat sa damdamin sa tuwing may hihingi ng tulong dahil may OFW na nagahasa, pinatay o sinasaktan. Dapat tiyakin ng gobyerno na hindi mauulit ito,” Ople said.
Philippine government officials will be flying to Saudi in the coming days for bilateral talks to resolve the issues hounding OFW welfare.
