Relationship of the Philippines

with Saudi Arabia:

Problems and Issues
 The Philippines–Saudi Arabia relations refers to
the bilateral relations of the Philippines and Saudi Arabia.
Formal diplomatic relations between the two countries
were established on October 24, 1969.
 PSA: Number of OFW’s in Saudi Arabia

Estimated 2.3
million Filipinos
worked abroad
in the middle
two quarters of
2018.
Philippines- Middle East Relations

 OIC- is the second largest inter-

governmental organization after the
United Nations.

-57 states
- Covering 4 continents
Labor Issues

 Every year, an unknown number of Filipinos in Saudi Arabia are "victims

of sexual abuses, maltreatment, unpaid salaries, and other labor
malpractices," according to John Leonard Monterona, the Middle East
coordinator of Migrante, a Manila-based OFW organization.
 Bilateral Labor Agreement
 The agreement was the first for the Kingdom with a
manpower-supplying country. It sets the rights and
obligations of the employee and employers as well as the
recruitment agencies from both countries.
 BILATERAL LABOR AGREEMENTS FOR MIGRANT
DOMESTIC WORKERS

Legal Basis: Republic Act 10022 (Migrant Workers Act)

 “The State shall allow the deployment of overseas Filipino workers only in
countries where the rights of Filipino migrant workers are protected. The
government recognizes any of the following as a guarantee on the part of the
receiving country for the protection of the rights of overseas Filipino workers:
 It has existing labor and social laws protecting the rights of workers, including
migrant workers;
 It is a signatory to and/or a ratifies of multilateral conventions, declarations
or resolutions relating to the protection of workers, including migrant
workers; and
 It has concluded a bilateral agreement or arrangement with the government
on the protection of the rights of overseas Filipino workers.
BLA BETWEEN THE PHILIPPINES AND THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI
ARABIA (KSA)

Salient Features and Updates:

 Conduct of Joint Committee Meetings(JCMs) to discuss
action points on the implementation of the instrument and
issues governing the provisions of the agreement in relation
to the deployment of domestic workers
BLA BETWEEN THE PHILIPPINES AND THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA
(KSA)

Salient Features and Updates:

 There have been four (4) Joint Committee Meetings for KSA where labor concerns covering
the deployment, on site employment and return of Filipino domestic workers were
discussed.
 Among the issues discussed during the JCMs:
 electronic contract recruitment and contract processing
 proposed guidelines for mega recruitment companies (MRCs)
 amendments to the standard employment contract for MRC recruitment
 review of the recruitment process of domestic workers
Trade relations
 Saudi Arabia was the 10th largest trading partner of the Philippines, 31st and 8th
largest market in the export and import market respectively. Saudi Arabia was also
the Philippines' largest trading partner and import supplier, and second largest export
market in the Middle East.

 The two countries have good relations in all areas including diplomatic, economic,
cultural and education.