A bit of good news for Filipinos wanting to work in Saudi Arabia as Domestic Helpers.

Migrant Workers Secretary Susan Ople announced Tuesday night while in Riyadh that the Philippines will lift the ban on the deployment of domestic workers to Saudi Arabia by the first week of November.

The announcement was made after several days of bilateral discussions between Philippine and Saudi officials. The Saudi government was represented by the Minister for Human Resources and Social Development Minister Ahmad Bin Sulaiman Al-Rajhi.

In a joint statement, both countries agreed to undertake necessary measures “to facilitate the decent and productive employment of overseas Filipino workers, and ensure protection of their rights.”

The ban was imposed by then President Rodrigo Détente due to complaints and reports of abuse and maltreatment.

Ople made an assurance that negotiations would continue to enact reforms that would address abuses and nonpayment of wages of Filipino domestic helpers.

The Overseas Filipino Workers including the domestic helpers number around 11.7 Million Filipinos who are considered modern day heroes and keeping the economy alive by sending dollar remittances.

Images credits to ekrem osmanoglu on Unsplash