Palace: No response yet from Saudi gov't on request to relax exit requirements

The Philippine government has not yet received any response from Saudi Arabia officials on its request to relax exit visa requirements for the repatriation of undocumented Filipino workers in the kingdom, a Palace official said on Tuesday.

Deputy spokesperson Abigal Valte said negotiations are still underway between officials from the two countries on the Philippines' request for a waiver on some requirements imposed by the Saudi government on migrant workers to be able to exit the kingdom.

“Ginagalawan na naman natin 'yan, but we're hopeful na sana naman po ay mapakinggan din 'yung mga interventions natin,” Valte said at a press briefing.

Valte added that the Philippine government is also preparing “contingencies” if Saudi government rejects the Philippines' waiver request. She did not, however, elaborate on these plans.

“May mga kaukulang paghahanda naman tayo, hindi lang 'yung konsulado doon, pati rin naman tayo rito,” she said.

Over 1,000 Filipinos are currently battling rising desert temperatures at a camp outside the Philippine consulate in Jeddah, hoping to be repatriated before a crackdown on illegal workers launched by the Saudi government lands them in prison.

Last April 6, Saudi Arabi's King Abdullah ordered a three-month delay to the crackdown on undocumented migrant workers to enable them the chance to sort out their papers.

Earlier, the DFA said it has already asked the Saudi government to waive some of requirements for exit visas, such as the No Objection Certificate from employers, to enable to speedy repatriation of Filipinos illegally staying in Jeddah.

The penalties for illegal migrant workers set by the Saudi government include:

• 2,000 Saudi Riyals (SR) (P22,000) for absconding;
• SR2,400 (P26,000) for their expired iqama or residence permit;
• SR1,000 riyals (P11,000) for losing their iqamas; and-SR600 to SR650 (P6,600 - P7,000) for each year of staying illegally in Saudi Arabia, home to over one million Filipino workers.