GO TO AFRICA -- POEA

Construction workers in Saudi Arabia.

TACLOBAN CITY -- While bulk of the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are working at the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) here in light of Saudization policy announced that there are other alternative markets abroad.

Most of the OFWs in KSA are into construction, communications, factories and health services, she said.

She added that it was only recently that the country allowed its OFWs to work as household service workers provided the conditions on their salary, welfare and protection are met.

POEA 8 regional coordinator Rose P. Jervoso said that OFWs may try other destinations such as Africa, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom and Canada.

She said that there are OFWs from Eastern Visayas who are earning well in Africa.

She added that Canada is an emerging market, especially for butchers and those who are willing to work in fast food chains.

The ‘Saudization policy’ will prioritize nationals of KSA when it comes to hiring.

From the July 3 deadline, the Saudi government extended it to November 3 to allow undocumented workers time to process their documents.

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