Saudi ‘needs more Filipinos’

RIYADH // Saudi Arabia will need more Filipino workers despite the nationalisation drive and falling oil prices, Manila’s labour secretary said yesterday after a meeting between Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte and Saudi King Salman.

“Saudis explained the kind of growth they are having in Saudi Arabia,” said secretary Silvestre Bello.

“They recognised that Filipinos were instrumental in the growth of Saudi Arabia in the past years, saying they were their expats of choice.”

Saudi Arabia is the secondlargest employer of Philippine overseas workers, employing 760,000 Filipinos.

Mr Bello said he raised the issue of about 160 Filipino absconders who had fled their employers, adding that he asked the Saudi labour minister to let Mr Duterte’s delegation take them home.

“To my surprise, he positively responded to my request,” Mr Bello said, adding that they would finalise an agreement later.

Philippine officials said that Mr Duterte and the Saudi officials also discussed closer co- operation in areas such as investment, counter- terrorism, media, agriculture, tourism and logistics.

The money Filipinos remit has become a major contributor to the Philippine economy.

There were almost 9 million foreigners employed in the kingdom before the worsening economic crisis led to thousands being sent home.

Filipinos and other Asian labourers, particularly in the construction sector, left the kingdom for good, some with wages still unpaid.