Saudi Arabia plans to recruit 1M Filipinos

By A Robin - June 11, 2023

Filipino expats

The Philippines is preparing for mass recruitment opportunities from Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar and Oman

Saudi Arabia could recruit more than 1 million Filipinos and the UAE, Qatar and Oman are planning extra recruitment, according to the Philippines Government.

Tourism, hospitality and construction sectors could see extensive recruitment, according to a Philippines News Agency report.

It said the country’s Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) announced it is in the process of signing a memorandum of cooperation with several countries that are interested in hiring more Filipino healthcare and skilled workers.

Saudi Arabia plans Philippines recruitment

DMW Undersecretary for Policy and International Cooperation PY Caunan said that Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman and Qatar have expressed intention to hire Filipino workers.

Caunan said that during the last visit of DMW Secretary Susan Ople in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia expressed the intention to hire about 1m Filipinos for new jobs.

Caucan said: “In our meetings we asked them which industries are involved. They said many of these are in the tourism sector such as hotels, restaurants, and resorts that will open in Saudi Arabia.

“Of course, the construction is still included”.

She said the DMW will place these job openings in the special hiring program that the department will soon launch.

“This special hiring program would ensure that people have more flexibility when it comes to employment in Saudi Arabia,” she added.

Caunan said the DMW’s counterpart in Saudi Arabia, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, has given the department its full support.

The DMW has also scheduled a joint committee meeting with its counterpart in the UAE.

Caunan said: “Expect in the coming weeks that we will be calling a series of meetings and dialogues with different stakeholders including our OFWs to get all the concerns, from the private recruitment agencies, and from our OFWs with regards to our deployment in the UAE”.

She added that the UAE already said that it is looking for more skilled workers.

With this development, Caunan said the DMW is looking forward to having a stronger alliance and cooperation with the UAE.

A joint committee meeting between the Philippines and Qatar is also expected to happen in September, while it is also looking forward to having stronger ties with Oman which has also communicated that it has a high demand for workers.