Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 9) — While the Philippine government’s push to abolish the kafala system in the Middle East has yet to materialize, Saudi Arabia is working on easing contractual restrictions on domestic workers.
During a virtual briefing on Monday, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Sarah Lou Arriola said Saudi Arabia may implement a system in 2022 to improve the working environment for household service workers.
“What we know, ang pinaka-good news from Saudi Arabia ay next year magkakaroon ng insurance ang household service workers. Halimbawa gusto na nilang umuwi or ayaw nila ‘yung kanilang napasukan, may assurance na pwede silang palitan sa kanilang mga employer doon para hindi sila pigilan sa pag-uwi,” she said.
[Translation: What we know, the best news from Saudi Arabia is that household service workers will have insurance next year. For example, if they want to go home or they don’t want their employer, there is an assurance that they can get a substitute so that they will not be prevented from coming home.]
“They have given us assurance, it’s really in the pipeline,” she added.
Arriola admitted that both governments have yet to move forward with the complete abolition of the kafala system, but stressed the Saudi Arabia government “is very open to discussions”.
The kafala system requires migrant workers to have a sponsor in the host country before a visa and worker’s permit can be issued. It generally binds a worker to one employer, leaving workers vulnerable to exploitation, according to rights groups.
In April, President Rodrigo Duterte branded the kafala system as “unjust and exploitative.”
“In the next months, there will be some visits, bilateral talks between the Philippines and the Saudi Arabia for better terms and conditions for workers in the Kingdom,” the DFA official said.
