Saudi Arabia and the Philippines have taken a significant step towards enhancing the workforce in the Kingdom. Officials from both nations in the private sector have formalized a memorandum of understanding to bring "professional" talent from the Philippines, aligning with the labor market's demands in Saudi Arabia through partnerships with specialized international firms.

This pivotal agreement was inked during a Saudi-Philippine roundtable meeting in Riyadh, attended by the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr., and Saudi Minister of Investment, Khalid Al Faleh. Representatives from major human resources companies and government and private sectors in both countries were also present.

The discussions during the meeting didn't stop at employment collaboration. Investment opportunities were explored, with a focus on bolstering economic ties between Saudi Arabia and the Philippines and leveraging the skilled Filipino workforce across various sectors, as reported by Saudi media.

During a recent GCC-ASEAN summit in Riyadh, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman also met with the President of the Philippines, indicating the importance of diplomatic relations between the two nations.

Notably, around 725,000 Filipinos currently reside in Saudi Arabia, according to recent Saudi statistics.

Recruitment of Filipino domestic workers in Saudi Arabia had been halted in late 2021 but was resumed in November. The suspension was attributed to new regulations issued by the Philippine Ministry of Labour, governing the contractual relationship between Filipino house workers and their foreign employers.

In response to this, Saudi labor authorities have proactively sought to regulate the domestic labor market. The Saudi Ministry of Human Resources launched the Musaned domestic labor program, aimed at educating customers about their rights and responsibilities, and facilitating services like visa issuance, recruitment requests, and contractual relationships between employers and workers.

The ministry has strongly recommended conducting hiring procedures through Musaned, the official recruitment platform. This initiative is pivotal in streamlining the labor market and ensuring fair and legal employment practices.

The collaboration between Saudi Arabia and the Philippines marks a significant development, not only in bolstering the Saudi workforce but also in strengthening the economic ties between the two nations. The agreement reflects a commitment to ensuring the rights and welfare of Filipino workers in the Kingdom.