The Kinde Plaza: A park within a bigger ‘park’
Filipinos working at the different embassies inside the Diplomatic Quarter (DQ) are among the luckiest foreign workers in the Kingdom’s capital.
They often meet at the Kinde Plaza to discuss developments at home and in the Kingdom, like the clampdown on illegal workers, as well as the Filipinos who have camped inside the Philippine Embassy.
Kinde Plaza looks like a park because of ornamental plants in the area. From there, the verdant foliage inside the premises of the different embassies are visible nearby, as well as the tall green palm trees along DQ’s main thoroughfare.
“You can say that the Kinde Plaza is a park within a much bigger park, which is the Diplomatic Quarter,” said a Filipino working at a European embassy.
It is surrounded by various commercial establishments which include a grocery store and a fast-food restaurant. In front of the establishments, chairs and tables are available for people who want to rest.
At the Kinde Plaza, which is not far from the Philippine Embassy, Filipinos discuss their dreams and aspirations, as well as life after leaving the Kingdom where they have worked for several years.
They also talk of their plans for implementation in the Philippines in preparation for retirement upon reaching the age of 60, although some employers have waived retirement age if the services of an employee are still needed.
They also discuss projects to help one another personally or to help stranded Filipino workers at the Bahay Kalinga (BK) under the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO), which is an affiliate agency of the Philippine Embassy.
Benefits include security of tenure, good salaries and other benefits from their employers.
“My salary is not that big compared to other Filipino workers in the Kingdom, but my job is secure as long as I do my best,” said a Filipino working at an Asian embassy. Others have also saved so that they could start a business venture when they go home for good. They have also bought their dream house and sent
At the Kinde Plaza, which is not far from the Philippine Embassy, Filipinos discuss their dreams and aspirations, as well as life after leaving the Kingdom where they have worked for several years.
their children to college. After graduation, some of these children have also come to Saudi Arabia to work.