Saudi Arabia, Philippines agree to resume deployment of Filipino workers

Saudi Arabia is the most preferred destination of overseas Filipino workers. (AFP file photo)
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Updated 14 September 2022
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Saudi Arabia, Philippines agree to resume deployment of Filipino workers

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia and the Philippines have agreed to resume the deployment of Filipino workers (OFWs) to the Kingdom from November 7 after several days of top-level bilateral discussions between the two countries.

Saudi Arabia is the most preferred destination for OFWs, hosting one out of five Filipinos working abroad. More than a million Filipinos work in the Kingdom, many in construction or as household workers or nurses.

The Philippines has earlier suspended the deployment of workers to Saudi Arabia, citing various issues relating to labor and employment rights of its citizens.

In a joint statement issued Tuesday, both countries agreed to undertake joint measures “to facilitate the decent and productive employment of OFWs and ensure the protection of their rights.”

Minister for Human Resources and Social Development Minister Ahmad Bin Sulaiman Al-Rajhi led the Saudi Arabia’s delegation who met with Migrant Workers Secretary Susan Ople’s team.

“We are grateful to Minister Al-Rajhi and the government of Saudi Arabia for sharing our concern for the rights of our workers. Likewise, we intend to move forward by working together on implementing mechanisms that would ensure the protection of our workers’ rights and welfare,” Ople said.

The Philippine official underscored the commitment of both countries for a joint partnership against the trafficking of migrant workers, and hailed the “convergence of concrete ideas and measures on how best to protect our OFWs while at the same time, deepening the ties between the two countries.”

Saudi Arabia’s labor ministry has committed to review a proposal to reduce the duration of the employment contract of domestic workers to one year, a statement from Ople noted.




Abdul Hannan M. Tago, the executive assistant of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos.

Abdul Hannan M. Tago, the executive assistant of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos, emphasized the significance of the resumption of the deployment of Filipino workers to Saudi Arabia, calling it a “very welcome development.”

The bilateral relationship is significant for both countries, as the first Filipino laborers landed in Saudi Arabia five decades ago.

Tago stated that the Philippines benefited significantly economically from its tie with Saudi Arabia, noting that the bulk of Filipino employees are skilled, and there are also excellent doctors, nurses, engineers, and mechanics.

“Many of us are aware that contracted domestic employees can cause a great deal of trouble and problems, which is understandable. However, the commercial ties between the two nations should not be jeopardized or harmed as a result, especially given that domestic workers do not comprise the majority of the two countries’ economic relations,” he noted.

Tago praised Filipino workers’ abilities, saying they love their jobs, are dedicated to achieving their responsibilities, work honestly, and have strong work ethics.




Waleed A. Alswaidan, the former chairman of Saudi-Philippine Business Council.

“Labor relations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Philippines remained, but were marred by some problems during the last period,” Waleed A. Alswaidan, the former chairman of Saudi-Philippine Business Council, told Arab News.

“This (working with what was stated in the memorandum of understanding) requires the approval of the higher authorities on its provisions, including the change in work contracts,” Alswaidan said.

Alswaidan praised the Filipino workers who participated in the development of Saudi Arabia’s industry, health and various economic sectors, and said that “they are good and skilled workers that are respected by the Saudi investor.”

“The trade movement between the two countries is continuous and is not limited to workers only, but also includes many types of electronic trade, furniture, leather and food items, and there are Saudi goods exported to the Philippines,” he added.

“I hope that things will go in the best interest of all contractual parties. For example, there are 4 parties to contracts related to housekeeping workers that are the worker, the homeowner, the Philippine labor office, and the Saudi recruitment agency. It is important that contracts contribute to the satisfaction of all parties,” the CEO of Waleed Alswaidan Recruitment Agency stressed.

“The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development in Saudi Arabia has created an office for support and protection concerned with finding solutions to the problems of housekeeping workers in particular and solving the problems that occur between the employer and the workers,” he added.


Saudi Arabia ‘categorically rejects’ Israel’s plan to seize Gaza territory

Updated 08 May 2025
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Saudi Arabia ‘categorically rejects’ Israel’s plan to seize Gaza territory

  • Israeli authorities on Monday approved plans to take over territory and forcibly displace population
  • Kingdom’s Foreign Ministry strongly condemns Israel’s violations of international law

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has “categorically rejected” plans by Israel to expand its military operations in Gaza and seize control of the territory.

The ministry also “strongly condemned the continued Israeli violations of international law and international humanitarian law.”

Israeli authorities on Monday approved a new ground operation to take over parts of Gaza, forcibly displace Palestinians into the south of the territory, and control the distribution of humanitarian aid. The Israeli army is calling up tens of thousands of reserve soldiers.

The announcement sparked widespread international condemnation. Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry said it stood firmly opposed to any attempted expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, and stressed the importance of holding Israel accountable for failures to comply with international resolutions.

The Kingdom continues to have “unwavering support for the Palestinian cause, in line with international legitimacy, the Arab Peace Initiative, and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders, with east Jerusalem as its capital,” the ministry added.


Saudi project destroys 600 more Houthi landmines and other explosives in Yemen

Updated 07 May 2025
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Saudi project destroys 600 more Houthi landmines and other explosives in Yemen

  • The devices, cleared from various parts of the war-torn country in recent months, were safely detonated on Wednesday
  • Project Masam has removed nearly 500,000 mines across Yemen since its launch in 2018

RIYADH: Members of the Saudi Project for Landmine Clearance, also known as Project Masam, safely detonated 600 mines, unexploded ordnance and other explosive devices on Wednesday.

The project’s engineers had demined and removed the devices over the past few months from various parts of Yemen, including the town of Beihan and the districts of Usaylan and Ain in Shabwah governorate.

Hussein Al-Aqili, commander of the project’s survey team, said they carried out the destruction operation in the Thahba area of Ain district on Wednesday as part of their ongoing mission to clear mines and other remnants of war in Yemen, and save civilian lives.

The project has cleared nearly 500,000 mines from the country since its work there began in 2018.

Last week, Ousama Algosaibi, the managing director of Masam, warned that the Houthis continue to exploit periods of truce to plant more mines across Yemen.

“We are in a constant race with the Houthi militias; we clear mines from one side while they plant more on the other,” he said during an interview with Al-Ekhbariya TV.


Saudi ambassador meets Bahrain King’s media affairs adviser

Updated 07 May 2025
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Saudi ambassador meets Bahrain King’s media affairs adviser

Saudi Ambassador to Bahrain Naif bin Bandar Al-Sudairi was received by Nabeel bin Yacoub Al-Hamer, media affairs adviser to the King of Bahrain, in Manama on Wednesday.

The adviser expressed his pride in the solid fraternal relations and deep-rooted historical ties that bind the two countries, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

He also wished Al-Sudairi continued success in his duties, which will further support and strengthen the fraternal ties, mutual coordination, and close cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain in various fields, and particularly in the media.


 


Saudi commission expands music access for people with disabilities

Updated 07 May 2025
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Saudi commission expands music access for people with disabilities

  • Push for accessible arts programming reflects wider goals for social development

MAKKAH: Saudi Arabia’s Music Commission has launched a national initiative to expand access to music education for people with disabilities, marking a key step toward their greater inclusion in the Kingdom’s cultural landscape.

Focused on Riyadh, Jeddah and Alkhobar, the program trains instructors to teach students with physical and cognitive disabilities.

It supports the ambitions of Saudi Vision 2030, which seeks to elevate quality of life and ensure opportunities for all segments of society.

Music education expert Issa Al-Qarbi praised the initiative as a transformative step in supporting individuals with disabilities.

“Music is a highly effective medium for stimulating brain activity, developing motor and social skills, and enhancing overall psychological well-being,” he said.

The initiative includes adapting teaching methods, specialized curricula and fully accessible learning environments aligned with the requirements of the Mowaamah certification, a program which provides support to increase participation among disabled individuals in the labor market.

In designing the program, the commission partnered with international experts in music on the curricula and programs that align with global best practices.

The existing models were reviewed using the standards set by the National Association for Music Education.

The commission’s goal is to empower students to express themselves through music, boost their self-confidence and enhance their social, cognitive and motor skills.

The students will receive extended training that prepares them for group performances while supporting their artistic, cognitive and social development. Sessions with parents and community members are also being planned to raise awareness and encourage family engagement.

Al-Qarbi said that long-term sustainability and lasting impacts could be ensured by closer partnerships between the education and healthcare sectors.

He praised the initiative as a regional model, opening the door to further research and innovation.

He said that teaching music to individuals with disabilities went beyond technical skills, nurturing essential personal qualities such as patience, discipline and social engagement, which in turn positively influenced many areas of their lives.


Saudi surgeons separate Egyptian child from parasitic twin

Updated 07 May 2025
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Saudi surgeons separate Egyptian child from parasitic twin

  • Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah says operation is one of the most delicate carried out by his team
  • Procedure takes 8 hours and involves multidisciplinary team of 26 consultants

RIYADH: A medical team from the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program successfully completed a surgical procedure on Wednesday to separate an Egyptian child from a parasitic twin.

The operation on 8-month-old Mohammed Abdulrahman Juma at King Abdullah Specialist Children’s Hospital in Riyadh took eight hours and was split into six stages. It involved a multidisciplinary team of 26 consultants, including specialists in anesthesia, neurosurgery, pediatrics and plastic surgery.

A parasitic twin, also known as a vestigial twin, is an identical twin that stopped developing during gestation and is physically attached to a fully developed twin. Because it did not fully develop, it cannot survive on its own and often dies in the womb or during birth.

Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, who heads the surgical team and is an advisor at the royal court and supervisor general of Saudi aid agency KSrelief, said the twins were joined at the back, lower chest, abdomen and pelvis. The parasitic twin lacked a head and essential organs, including a heart and kidneys.

Al-Rabeeah described the operation as one of the most delicate his team has been involved with, and thanked his colleagues for their efficiency and skill during the surgery, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Mohammed and his parents flew to Saudi Arabia in March after King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman issued directives for medics in the Kingdom to help the child.

The operation on Wednesday was the 63rd separation procedure carried out under the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program, which has reviewed 149 cases of patients from 27 countries since its inception in 1990.