PR-059-2014
3 May 2014

Philippine Embassy and POLO Staff Take Seminars on
the Saudi Labor Law and the New Regulations for HSWs

Labor Attaché Rustico Dela Fuente Lectures to Embassy and Attached Services on the PHL-KSA Domestic Workers Agreement.

(Riyadh, 3 May 2014) Leading up to the Labor Day on 1 May 2014, the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh held refresher courses and seminars over the past month for all Embassy and attached services personnel on various laws and regulations affecting Filipinos in the Kingdom.

Ambassador Ezzedin Tago said “the seminars are part of our efforts to ensure our Embassy personnel are fully equipped to help our nationals within the framework of the local laws. We must constantly and regularly update our personnel on changes in laws and regulations that affect our nationals especially on the international level, and within the Kingdom and the Philippines. We are doing this first at the level of our personnel before our officials embark on some outreach missions to update our nationals on laws that affect them.”

The lectures and seminars were conducted by Labor Attaché Rustico Dela Fuente, and spanned three days focusing on the Saudi Labor Law and its recent amendments, changes in the residency regulations and penalties for violations, the PHL-KSA agreement on domestic workers, and Royal Decree 310 dated 7-9-1434H approving the regulations on domestic workers which codifies a framework for the protection of domestic workers.

Labor Attaché Dela Fuente reminded personnel about the recently launched website (www.musaned.gov.sa) by the Saudi Ministry of Labor that focuses on domestic workers, which has a comprehensive brochure in various languages including Tagalog. The Embassy had earlier circulated the brochures, and has posted copies around the Embassy.

Labor Attaché Dela Fuente also explained that, with the Saudi regulations on domestic workers (HSWs, drivers, gardeners, and other categories working in private homes) household workers in all categories are now entitled to file their complaints through Grievance Committees with the Saudi Ministry of Labor.

The Embassy will soon conduct similar courses for community members, and will strengthen its online presence with such advisories and regulations. END