OFWs in Saudi deserve salary increase
Aranuez
Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in Saudi Arabia deserve increase in their salaries as they are the most competent and sought-after foreign workers in the entire world. The salary increase of Filipino household workers from US $200 to US $400 is a new policy being implemented by the Department of Labor and Employment and Philippine Overseas Employment Administration.
AKSA-Party List Nominee Timoteo Aranjuez said the increase in the salary of OFW is “justifiable” considering the economic status of Saudi Arabia. The employers can afford to pay the workers. “Hindi masyadong kawalan sa kanila ang increase.”
It is feared that the Saudi government will source its manpower requirements from other labor exporting countries because of the 100 percent in the salary of Filipino household workers. The Saudi government wanted a gradual increase in the salary. At present, they have already started cutting the issuance of visas for Filipino workers.
Aranjuez added that the level of competency of Filipinos when they work abroad is far different when they are in the country. Filipinos working abroad excel in whatever endeavor they are into, their employers are justified with their work. However, should the Saudi government consider hiring workers from other countries with cheap labor can affect the Filipinos. Many will also lose their work.
Aranjuez who is a labor advocate said they are supporting the move of the Philippine government in seeking a salary increase. AKSA which means Aksyon Sambayanan strongly supports the move of the government to ensure a high salary for the workers.
At the same time, Aranjuez said if the government is imposing such increase in Saudi, they should also approve the P125 salary increase of workers in the country. They should be rational when they want other countries to increase the salary of the workers. The P125 daily wage increase was junked.
Meanwhile, Aranjuez said the government should provide more jobs in the country to lessen the number of OFWs. If there are enough work in the country and the pay is high, the number of workers will decrease.
The government should also reintegrate programs for returning OFWs including enhancement of their technical and entrepreneurship skills. They should not remain as OFWs for a very long time, said Aranjuez.