PASAY CITY — Following the Philippine-Saudi Arabia webinar on Labor Mobility last 20 April 2021, the Philippine Delegation headed by Presidential Assistant on Foreign Affairs Robert E. Borje and Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Sarah Lou Y. Arriola, met with His Excellency Ahmad Bin Suleiman Al-Rajih and Deputy Minister Mr. Sattam Al Harbi on 21 June 2021, as part of the joint efforts of both countries to continue working together towards the fulfillment of the objectives of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration. 

During the meeting, both countries agreed to work on supporting labor reform initiatives, especially those that advance the rights and welfare of migrant workers, including that of labor mobility.

“The continued easing of contractual restrictions for foreign workers has benefitted an estimated 850,000 Filipino workers currently present in Saudi Arabia”, said Undersecretary Arriola. 

Both countries also agreed to bring their partnership with respect to labor issues to the international stage, particularly at the International Labour Conference and the International Migration Review Forum in 2022, and formulate a work plan to raise the level of awareness of the Filipino migrant workers in Saudi Arabia on the positive labor mobility reforms happening in the Kingdom. (DFA)