Philippines temporarily suspends deployment of OFWs to Saudi Arabia
Number of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) bound for Saudi Arabia were stranded at Manila's International Airport after the Philippine government temporarily suspended deployment to Saudi Arabia until further notice with immediate effect.
The department received reports that, "departing OFWs are being required by their employers/foreign recruitment agencies to shoulder the costs of the health and safety protocol for COVID-19 and insurance coverage premium upon their entry in the Kingdom".
- The report said the labor department will issue an official statement on the resumption of deployment to Saudi Arabia after the matter has been clarified. Trending : Return of Entertainment activities in Saudi Arabia for Vaccinated people
- As per the travel regulations from Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation, it requires all international passengers must complete a 7 days institutional quarantine on their expense, starting from the time of their arrival.
- Travelers must take PCR test on the 7th day of their arrival, if the result is negative, they would be permitted to leave quarantine on 8th day.
- The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration said the quarantine protocols would be clarified as, 'OFWs must not bear the costs of the institutional quarantine and PCR testing', but the foreign employers instead.
- OFWs who have been vaccinated with COVID-19 vaccines from China are allowed to enter Saudi Arabia but will still undergo quarantine once they arrive in the host country. OFWs vaccinated with Chinese vaccines will have to quarantine, as per the social media posts of Riyadh. See Also : Saudi Father forgives Son's killer minutes before execution
- Saudi Arabia is one of the major destination for Filipino workers in the Middle East, as more than 1 million OFWs employed in the Kingdom and sending a remittances to home country of about 1.8 billion dollars.
