Speaker Martin Romualdez on Monday said the estimated 220,000 job opportunities generated by the Saudi Arabia visit of President Marcos last week was a concrete manifestation of the administration’s commitment to promoting the welfare and uplifting the lives of Filipino workers.
Romualdez cited the four landmark agreements between Saudi and Filipino firms signed during the visit that would open job opportunities for Filipino workers to fill the growing demand for laborers in the kingdom.
“The successful visit of President Marcos to Saudi is a solid testament to the dedication of his administration in ensuring the well-being and improving the lot of Filipino workers, through enhancement of the long-standing friendship and diplomatic ties between the two nations,” Romualdez said.
“This visit reaffirms the commitment of our government to support and protect the rights and welfare of our overseas Filipino workers, who have played a pivotal role in enhancing the lives of their families and the entire nation,” he added.
Topping the four agreements is the $3.765 billion deal between Al-Jeer Human Resources Company (ARCO) and the Association of Philippine Licensed Agencies for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for investments that would employ Filipino workforce in the kingdom.
Also signed during the visit was the agreement between Al Rushaid Petroleum Investment Company & Samsung Engineering NEC Co. Ltd., on the one hand, and Filipino firm EEI Corporation valued at $120 million for the establishment of a 500-person training facility in the Tanza, Cavite, Philippines.
Meant to upgrade Filipino labor skills in masonry, carpentry, electrical, welding, equipment management, warehousing, steel fabrication, and other construction-related crafts, the deal aims to train at least 2,000 Filipinos starting in 2024 and more than 15,000 in the next five years.
Likewise signed were two separate agreements between Maharah Human Resources Company of Saudi and Filipino firms Staffhouse International Resources Corporation and E-GMP International Corporation, each valued at an estimated $191 million.
Both agreements seek to onboard 10,000 Filipino workers annually to the kingdom until 2030.
The labor group Trade Union Congress of the Philippines also lauded President Marcos for addressing issues faced by OFWs, including settling the unpaid wages of more than 10,000 Filipino workers in Saudi.
In a statement, the TUCP also thanked the President for ending Kuwait’s suspension of the issuance of entry and work visas to Filipinos.
“With the President ’s meetings with the Saudi and Kuwait monarchs, we can look forward to brighter days and better treatment of our workers without fear of abuse and harassment,” TUCP President and House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Raymond Democrito Mendoza said in a statement.