MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte welcomed Saudi Arabia’s Labor Reform Initiative (LRI), which he said is a “significant step” in addressing the sponsorship system prevalent in the Middle East.
Saudi’s LRI eases contractual restrictions of foreign workers and allows them to change jobs or leave the country without their employers’ permission. This mechanism will take effect by March 2021.
“President Duterte recognizes the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s LRI as a significant step towards addressing concerns over the traditional sponsorship regime that exists in most parts of the Middle East,” a Palace statement on Monday said.
The labor reform will benefit almost 800,000 Filipino migrant workers in Saudi Arabia, Palace added.
Duterte congratulated King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud for the landmark initiative.
The President renewed his commitment to work closely with the Saudi Arabian king to “strengthen cooperation in fields of mutual interest, including the promotion of rights and welfare of Filipinos in the Kingdom.”