Daijiworld Media Network

Saudi, May 10: As per a new advisory, overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in 35 skill categories including pharmacists, security guards, and office employees working in human resources in Saudi Arabia will be affected as they will be unable to renew their residence permit.

Applicants awaiting permits also will be affected as no permits will be issued for the said positions.

According to data from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, over 300,000 OFWs who started working in the Kingdom in 2017 and 2018 will be affected as their contracts will expire. OFWs in Saudi Arabia are usually issued two-year residence permits.

However the new advisory also includes the 35 to 54 year old age bracket, the Philippines Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) is yet to conform whether all skill categories involving the age bracket will be affected.

The Philippines' Department of Labor and Employment has advised Filipino workers against staying in Saudi Arabia illegally, as it would lead to blacklisting and other complications for the OFW and for the Philippines government. The Labor and employment department has also offered to provide those OFWs who are set to lose their jobs, financial and livelihood assistance and a referral program to another country.