A new policy on the deployment of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to Saudi Arabia called the unified contract scheme was supposed to take effect last September 1. The decision of the Embassy of Saudi Arabia to suspend its implementation is favored by groups of recruitment agencies which strongly opposed the new policy claiming that it will make OFWs more prone to exploitation.

The president of the Philippine Association of Service Exporters, Inc. (Pasei), Victor Fernandez earlier said that the proposed unified contract can be likened to modern day slavery as it will minimize the role of government and recruitment agencies in the deployment process. Fernandez warned that OFWs may end up paying very high fees and receive less protection.

However recruitment agencies (which appealed for government’s help regarding the issue) are not grateful to the government. Fernandez said that the deferment is only good for one month, during the holy Ramadan of the Muslim.
 

The PASEI president then urged the government to redeem itself and take advantage of the suspension by formally asking the Saudi embassy to abolish the new rule.

Fernandez claimed that he has information that officials of Saudi embassy are open to the idea of its non-implementation but would not discard the policy on their own volition.
 
POEA’s Response to the Unified Contract Issue

In response to the issue regarding the Saudi’s unified contract policy, the new Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) chief, Jennifer Manalili, said that she wants to discuss the matter with various groups so the POEA can determine the appropriate action to be done.

Manalili said, “The POEA will be actively participating in the dialogue. We encourage the participation of the private sector. We really have to hear them on this. This is an issue that affects a lot of people, not just our workers, and also our recruitment agencies."

The new POEA head added, "So we are looking on closely at that para na rin sa proteksyon ng ating manggagawa, ayaw po natin yung sinasabi nila baka magkaroon nga ng contract substitution.”