Discover the remarkable increase in the Filipino workforce in Saudi Arabia, with numbers soaring from 143,000 in 2022 to an estimated 380,000 in 2023. Uncover the factors contributing to this significant rise and the recent developments in Saudi-Philippine relations that have facilitated this growth.
1. Explosive Growth in Filipino Workers:
Witness the more than twofold increase in the number of Filipino workers in Saudi Arabia, reaching an estimated 380,000 in 2023, as reported by a leading Saudi news portal.
2. Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Impact:
Explore the broader context of Filipino labor in the GCC, with approximately 1.8 million Filipino workers spread across the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council, highlighting the significance of Saudi Arabia in this demographic.
3. Philippines' Department of Migrant Workers (DMW):
Rely on figures from the Philippines' DMW, the authoritative department overseeing the welfare of overseas Filipino workers, to provide accurate statistics and insights into this labor surge.
4. Growing Saudi-Philippine Relations:
Examine the recent developments in diplomatic ties between Saudi Arabia and the Philippines, including a meeting between Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr.
5. Recruitment MOU and Resumed Hiring:
Understand the strategic memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed between Saudi and Philippine officials in the private sector, facilitating the recruitment of "professional" manpower from the Philippines. Learn about the resumption of recruitment of Filipino domestic workers in November 2022 after a temporary halt.
6. Saudi-Philippine Roundtable Meeting:
Delve into the outcomes of the Saudi-Philippine roundtable meeting in Riyadh, where the MOU was finalized, emphasizing the collaborative efforts between the two countries to meet the labor market demands in Saudi Arabia.
7. Regulatory Changes and Musaned Program:
Explore the regulatory changes in both Saudi Arabia and the Philippines that influenced the pause and subsequent resumption of Filipino domestic worker recruitment. Learn about the Saudi Ministry of Human Resources' Musaned domestic labor program, designed to regulate the domestic labor market.
8. Necessity of Musaned for Recruitment:
Highlight the importance stressed by Saudi labor authorities on conducting recruitment via the Musaned platform, emphasizing its role as the official recruitment platform for visa issuance, recruitment requests, and contractual relationships between employers and workers.
