Saudization, Omanization, Emiratization: OFWs threatened with more displacement

Migrante-Middle East, a Filipino migrants group, today reiterates its call on the Philippine government to ready safety nets for those overseas Filipino workers who will be displaced from the Middle East countries due to labor market reforms prioritizing jobs hiring for their own nationals over expatriate workers.

“Last month, the Saudi government announced that it will seriously implement ‘Saudization’ via the ‘Nitaqat’ scheme. The Omani government follow suit by implementing ‘Omanization; then here comes the United Arab Emirates seriously contemplating to have its own ‘Emiratization’ –all will certainly impact the employment of expatriate workers in these countries including our OFWs,” said John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator.

Citing local reports, Monteorna said some wealthy Emirati businessmen have laid off large numbers of foreign workers in a bid to employ more jobs for its own fellow nationals.

Monterona added that his source of the information from Abu Dhabi told him that there were around 100+ expatriates workers, including an undisclosed numbers of OFWs, were given jobs termination notices effective one to 3 months.

“We are getting information that the National leadership of the UEA govt. is seriously contemplating the implementation of ‘Emiratization’ which is an employment drive for its own nationals. It is like ‘Saudization’ of the Saudi govt. and ‘Omanization’ of the Omani govt.,” Monterona added.

“UAE is the overall no.2 OFWs destinations, next to Saudi Arabia. There around 600,000 OFWs scattered in the 7 Emirates of the UAE, but were mostly concentrated in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharja,” Monterona added.

Monterona is projecting if the ‘Emiratization’ will be fully implemented, it will affect around 80,000 to 150,000 OFWs mostly in the service sectors, those working in hotels and restaurants, and professionals such as engineers and bank executives.

“We are expecting that the DoLE and POEA will come out its own assessment on the impact of these labor policies – Saudization, Omanization, and Emiratization – to OFWs who will be displaced from Saudi Arabia and UAE,” Monterona added.

Monterona added: “After assessing the impact, the Aquino govt. should immediately craft ‘safety nets’ or programs that will provide assistance to displaced OFWs.”

“It is imperative now with the shrinking of labor markets in the Middle East, the Aquino government must seriously focus on jobs creation strengthening the local economy by implementing genuine agrarian reform program and nationalization of basic industries,” Monterona concluded. # # #

Reference:
John Leonard Monterona
Migrante-ME regional coordinator
Mobile No.00966535921228