AN ESTIMATED 220,000 job opportunities generated from President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s visit to Saudi Arabia shows the government’s commitment to uplift the lives of Filipino workers, according to Speaker Martin Romualdez.
Four landmark agreements inked by Saudi and Filipino firms during Marcos’ visit have created these prospective job opportunities to fill the growing demand for laborers in the kingdom as part of the Saudi Vision 2030.
Saudi Vision 2030 includes diversifying its economy away from oil, improving infrastructure, advancing digitalization, and creating competitive business environments.
“The successful visit of President Marcos to Saudi is a solid testament to the dedication of his administration in ensuring the well-being and improving the lot of Filipino workers, through enhancement of the long-standing friendship and diplomatic ties between the two nations,” Romualdez said on Monday, Oct. 23 .
He said the visit also reaffirms the administration’s commitment to support and protect the rights and welfare of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
He pointed out that President Marcos’ high-level discussions with Saudi officials involved issues of better job security and improved working conditions for OFWs in the kingdom.
Topping the four agreements is the USD3.765 billion deal between Al-Jeer Human Resources Company and the Association of Philippine Licensed Agencies for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to cooperate in terms of investments that would employ Filipino workers in the kingdom.
The agreement is expected to generate more than 200,000 jobs.
Another deal is between Al Rushaid Petroleum Investment Company & Samsung Engineering NEC Co. Ltd., on the one hand, and Filipino firm EEI Corporation valued at USD120 million for the establishment of a 500-person training facility in the Tanza, Cavite.
It aims to train at least 2,000 Filipinos starting in 2024 and more than 15,000 in the next five years, particularly for skills in masonry, carpentry, electrical, welding, equipment management, warehousing, steel fabrication, and other construction-related crafts.
Likewise signed were two separate agreements between Maharah Human Resources Company of Saudi and Filipino firms Staffhouse International Resources Corporation and E-GMP International Corporation, each valued at an estimated USD191 million.
Both agreements aim to bring 10,000 Filipino workers to the kingdom each year until 2030.
Meanwhile, the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines president and deputy speaker Raymond Democrito Mendoza lauded Marcos’ “fruitful” trip and ensured that the primary issues faced by OFWs were fully addressed. (With a report from Ferdinand Patinio/PNA)/PN
