BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occ., Philippines (PIA) — Bacolod City Public Employment Services Office head Moises de la Cruz dismissed as mere rumor talk about overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) are allegedly being discouraged from returning home for a vacation.

Allegations that visas of OFWs in Saudi Arabia leaving said country for a vacation with their families back home in the Philippines are stamped “exit,” making it difficult for them to return to their jobs.

What is confirmed as true, he said, is that Filipino domestic helpers who come home from the KSA are no longer allowed to return.

He explained that DoLE prevents them from leaving the country because the KSA refuses to conform to Philippine policy that Filipino domestic helpers be paid a minimum of $400 a month.

Nevertheless, De la Cruz said, the demand for Filipino workers’ employment in the KSA has not decreased. Although the country will no longer hire Filipino as domestic workers, he said, the KSA will still be hiring Filipino workers skilled in such fields as welding, masonry, carpentry and vehicle drivers.

He said the Philippine government cannot afford to ignore the concerns of Filipino OFWs because there are over 1.5 million such workers working abroad. In the event the Philippines and Saudi Arabia could not settle the issue regarding workers’ compensation, the government will have to look for other countries where Filipinos can be employed.