Philippine mulls higher pay for OFWs in Saudi

MANILA, Philippines — Filipinos working in Saudi Arabia may soon get a wage increase, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) reported on Monday.

Migrant Workers Secretary Susan Ople said they would discuss with the Saudi government an agreement, which seeks to increase the monthly salary of Filipino workers there.

Ople said a delegation from the Saudi Human Resource and Social Development is arriving in Manila this week to discuss the employment of domestic helpers.

Ople also allayed the concern of the local recruitment industry over the new age limit for domestic helpers seeking employment overseas.

In an interview with “The Chiefs” on OneNews on Monday night, Ople disputed the claim of local recruiters that the 24-year age limit could bar thousands of Filipinos from working abroad.

“I don’t think it holds water,” she said.

Ople said she met with owners of recruitment agencies deploying household workers to Saudi Arabia, but none raised the issue.

She said the DMW could not stop the implementation of the Anti-Human Trafficking Law setting the new age limit for female workers abroad.