PH sends envoy to Saudi Arabia to boost ties, protect OFWs

The Philippine government has sent a special envoy to Saudi Arabia to strengthen bilateral relations, advance labor reform cooperation, and ensure the well-being of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

Presidential Assistant on Foreign Affairs Robert E. A. Borje delivered President Rodrigo Duterte's message emphasizing the importance of partnership and cooperation between the two countries.

The envoy met with Saudi Arabian officials from the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development and the National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking.

The mission aims to enhance bilateral ties and advance labor reform cooperation, particularly in protecting Filipino migrant workers.

President Duterte welcomed Saudi Arabia's Labor Reform Initiative (LRI), which is a significant step towards addressing issues with the existing sponsorship system in the Middle East.

The two countries are working on a bilateral memorandum of understanding (MOU) on labor, based on Saudi's LRI.

There were about 2.2 million Filipinos working in Saudi Arabia as of 2019, according to Philippine Statistics Authority data.