(May 23, 2013) Filipino workers in Saudi Arabia trying to beat a deadline to amend
their employment status or face arrest, have flocked to Philippine consulates, overwhelming
consular workers. The Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila on Tuesday urged Filipinos
looking to leave Saudi Arabia to keep calm. Earlier on Saturday, a group of Filipinos
stormed the consulate in Jeddah to demand passports. Several consul employees were
reportedly assaulted, including the consul who was allegedly punched by one irate
worker. "The government is doing everything to help them but they must follow procedures
prescribed by the Saudi government if they want to be repatriated," said Foreign
Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez. At least 164 undocumented workers, including children,
have been repatriated from Saudi Arabia this week, but migrant rights group Migrante
said some 4,000 workers have set up camp around the embassy and consulate to demand
immediate repatriation. Relatives of stranded workers, however, trooped to the Foreign
Affairs office in Manila to call on the government to implement a "free, swift, and
mass repatriation" of workers. The Saudi government has given the workers until
July 4 to correct their employment status as the government fully implements the "Nitaqat"
system, which prioritizes the employment of Saudis over migrant workers. Philippine
officials fear that some 20,000 Filipinos have entered Saudi Arabia without proper
papers. The kingdom remains a top destination, with about 1.5 million Filipino overseas
workers there currently. Source Ucan: