The Saudi Arabian government has extended a six-month grace period for undocumented overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), particularly runaway domestic workers, allowing them to regularize their status without facing hefty immigration fines, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) announced.
DMW Undersecretary for Middle East and African Affairs Jainal Rasul Jr. confirmed that the Kingdom’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD) initiated this correction period for workers facing “huroob” cases—those reported as having fled from their employers. The grace period, which ends on November 10, gives affected OFWs the chance to secure a new employer who can provide them with an updated work permit or ‘iqama.’
Under this reprieve, undocumented workers can transfer to new employers without incurring the usual immigration fines, which can reach SAR600 or approximately PHP9 million, depending on the length of their overstay.
Rasul emphasized that the number of runaway workers has significantly decreased in recent years. The Philippine embassy in Riyadh is currently assisting around 100 female and 45 male workers, while in Al-Khobar, 50 cases are being handled, with most already possessing exit visas. The numbers are slightly higher in Jeddah, but most are also expected to return home soon.
Rasul also issued a warning to undocumented workers, particularly those working in salons and beauty shops in Jeddah, to be cautious amid intensified immigration inspections targeting unauthorized workers, including members of the LGBTQ+ community.