Press Statement
Reference: Ramon Bultron, Managing Director
Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants
Tel. Nos. (852) 9477-3141 / 2723-7536
E-mail: apmm@hknet.com

Resurrecting Unified Contract in Saudi Arabia is Like Delivering the Migrant Workers to the Wolves

The Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants is vehemently against the implementation of the unified contract in Saudi Arabia. The implementation of this contract will only worsen the situation of migrants in the Kingdom due to the recruitment agencies continued neglect in looking after the plight of migrant workers as well as their grievances related to their working contract and working and living condition.

The new contract provides that private recruitment agencies will be more responsible for the plight of migrant workers in Saudi Arabia. Although private recruitment agencies need to be more responsible for their migrant workers, however, this will only legitimize the neglect of sending government in ensuring the protection of their countrymen abroad and in effect will prolong the agony of migrants in seeking grievances and repatriation. And in practice, private recruitment agencies can disappear anytime without trace and the problems of resolving migrant grievances will remain.

On the other hand, the unified contract does not ensure the implementation of the provisions of the employment contract and instead allows the practice of contract substitution.

Thus, the implementation of the unified contract will only force the complaining migrants to runaway and this will only breed more stranded migrants.

The Philippine run shelter in Riyadh accommodates hundreds of stranded women migrants on a daily basis while the male stranded migrants are forced to roam around the city begging for food and a place to stay. Many of them are stranded for months up to years.

Early last year, the unified contract was first introduced and the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo through her Department of Labor Secretary Patricia Sto Tomas tried to wash her hands by denying its approval for the UC implementation. This happened after series of protest actions and opposition to the UC were registered. As a result, the UC implementation was temporarily suspended.

Recently, Waleed Al-Suwaidan, Chairman of the Saudi National Recruitment Committee of the Saudi Council of Chambers of Commerce and Industries announced that the UC will be implemented next month.

In view of this, we are calling all migrant advocates especially the migrant workers in Saudi Arabia to continue our opposition against the implementation of the Unified Contract. Let us join hand in holding coordinated actions to show our strong opposition against its implementation and to demand that both Saudi Arabia and sending government provide genuine protection for the rights and wellbeing of migrant workers.

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