via DFA: The Philippine Embassy in Riyadh reiterates to all Filipino workers in Saudi Arabia that, under Saudi and Philippine law, they have the right to keep and hold on to their Philippine passports while working in Saudi Arabia.
The Philippine passport is considered to be the property of the Republic of the Philippines and only the bearer has the right to keep it in his custody.
The Embassy firmly reminds companies and employers in Saudi Arabia who continue to keep their foreign workers’ passports, as a matter of practice and against the workers’ will, that they are violating Saudi law, specifically Council of Ministers Resolution No. 166 dated 12/04/1421H (14 July 2000) which clearly states that “every employee has the right to keep his passport in his custody.”
The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated to the Embassy this week that this rule remains in effect and that any overseas Filipino worker (OFW) whose passport has been kept by their employer has a right to complain to the Ministry of Labor or the police.
Full Text of the Advisory below:
OFWs Have the Right to Keep Their Own Passports
(Riyadh, 21 May 2015) – The Philippine Embassy in Riyadh reiterates to all Filipino workers in Saudi Arabia that, under Saudi and Philippine law, they have the right to keep and hold on to their Philippine passports while working in Saudi Arabia.
The Philippine passport is considered to be the property of the Republic of the Philippines and only the bearer has the right to keep it in his custody.
The Embassy firmly reminds companies and employers in Saudi Arabia who continue to keep their foreign workers’ passports, as a matter of practice and against the workers’ will, that they are violating Saudi law, specifically Council of Ministers Resolution No. 166 dated 12/04/1421H (14 July 2000) which clearly states that “every employee has the right to keep his passport in his custody.”
The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated to the Embassy this week that this rule remains in effect and that any OFW whose passport has been kept by their employer has a right to complain to the Ministry of Labor or the police.
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"The Ministry of Labor has warned private sector companies and establishments against withholding passports of their expatriate employees in violation of a Council of Ministers' decision issued in this connection more than a year ago.
The ministry said employers who fail to implement the directives would face severe penalties, according to Akhbaar24 website.
A source in the ministry quoted by the Makkah daily said the number of companies and commercial establishments with a workforce of more than 60 percent expatriates had dropped to 900,000."
SEE ALSO:
SAUDI ARABIA, UAE, QATAR, OMAN, BAHRAIN AND KUWAIT EMPLOYERS SHOULD NOT HOLD WORKER'S PASSPORT
PHILIPPINES AMBASSADOR TO SAUDI: REPORT IF YOUR EMPLOYER REFUSED TO GIVE YOUR PASSPORT
SEE ALSO:
SAUDI ARABIA, UAE, QATAR, OMAN, BAHRAIN AND KUWAIT EMPLOYERS SHOULD NOT HOLD WORKER'S PASSPORT
PHILIPPINES AMBASSADOR TO SAUDI: REPORT IF YOUR EMPLOYER REFUSED TO GIVE YOUR PASSPORT
Germany, Most Powerful Passport, Afghanistan, Least Powerful, Philippines Can Enter 61 Countries Without Visa.
DFA: OFW PASSPORT RENEWAL, ONE DAY PROCESSING ONLY IF YOU COME EARLY TO THIS BRANCH!
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