PH-Saudi talks on maid’s pay fail | Inquirer News

PH-Saudi talks on maid’s pay fail

Despite promises of “labor reforms” from Saudi officials, the suspension in the deployment of Filipino domestic helpers to Saudi Arabia remains with Saudi and Philippine labor officials failing to get agreement on the minimum salary level for such workers.

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz met with her Saudi counterpart, Adel M. Fakeih, on the sidelines of the ongoing 100th International Labor Organization conference in Geneva, but that no agreement was concluded, Labor Undersecretary Danilo Cruz said on Tuesday.

Last March, the Saudi government suspended the deployment of Filipino maids to the oil-rich kingdom after the Philippine government set the minimum monthly salary for domestics at $400.

Article continues after this advertisement

The Saudis asked that the rate be halved but Philippine labor officials said the $400 mandatory monthly wage cannot be lowered as this was the rate being implemented not just in Saudi Arabia but also in other countries where Filipino domestics are employed.

FEATURED STORIES

In a statement following her meeting with Fakeih, Baldoz said there was a need to improve the “system of protection within existing and new laws for low-skilled workers, including household service workers, in both countries.”

She said the Saudis had promised to implement labor reforms, insisting that “a new era of change and progress” in labor and employment had begun in the kingdom, where at least one million Filipino overseas workers are deployed.

Article continues after this advertisement

“The new measures will benefit both Saudi Arabia and foreign workers, including OFWs, who constitute an important segment of the Saudi workforce,” Baldoz quoted Fakeih as saying.

Article continues after this advertisement

The labor secretary said that the proposed Saudi reforms include the recognition of “intermediary hiring firms” that will serve as sponsors and coemployers of workers and who will be responsible for their welfare and protection; a “mandatory, broad-range insurance” for domestics with the premium to be paid for by employers; a new remittance scheme to reduce remittance costs; and the expansion of e-government facilities, including the creation of 24/7 Tagalog hotlines for complaints from OFWs.

Baldoz said she also discussed with Fakeih the hiring of nurses and his possible visit to the Philippines this year.

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

TAGS: Domestic Helpers, Labor issues, OFWs, Saudi Arabia

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our newsletter!

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

© Copyright 1997-2024 INQUIRER.net | All Rights Reserved

This is an information message

We use cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn more here.