What is Huroob?

Huroob is Arabic word which means escape or absconder or run away (Absent from Work).
As per Saudi Labor Law, employer has to report to passport authorities, If his employee (Saudi Expatriate) is absent from work for a special period of time to declare him as Huroob (Absconder or Escape or Run Away).

When this happens, the Expatriate employee is considered a criminal and can be arrested and jailed and then deported. Any Expatriate who gets reported as Huroob Iqama/Muqeem ID will be cancelled, illegal for him to stay in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, benefits and rights of legal employee will be cancelled, leave the Kingdom through deportation, 5 years ban from entering into the Kingdom.

If the employer failed to report the absence of employee, He (Sponsor or Employer) will be finalized as it is mandatory in Saudi Labor Law. The punishment to sponsor for non reporting about runaway employee is 5000SR for first time, 10,000 for second time and 15,000 for third time including one month imprisonment.

Runaway employee shall be deported at employer's expenses or if he was working for his own he shall be deported on his own expenses. Sometimes employers my misused Huroob provision, if an employee is going to approach against employer in labor court for any causes like mistreatment, non payment of salary or any other cases.

According to Saudi Labor Law, "An employer may not terminate the employee contract without an award, advance notice or indemnity except in a few cases, and provided that he gives the worker a chance to state his reasons for objecting the termination".
Thanks SAUDI-EXPATRIATES Read more: here>>>>>>

WORK SCHEDULE OF SSS OFFICE, JEDDAH, KSA

The Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia would like to inform the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) and all Filipinos that the Social Security System (SSS) representative will be on annual vacation from October 9 to November 8, 2016.

Miss Argentina Y. Coronel will temporarily manage the SSS office on the said dates from 8 am to 12 noon only, to assist and service those with business transactions. Coronel may be reached through her number 0532358056 or email ups_thina@yahoo.com for concerns and important matters.

PCGJeddah moved to new location

The Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia has been move into a new location.

OFWs who will have transactions with the Consulate must now proceed to its new address at Building No. 4663,  Fajer Street, Al Rehab District 6, Jeddah,  Saudi Arabia.

PCG Jeddah will no longer hold business matters in its old office at Umm Al Qura Street, Rehab District.

The Consulate offers services to OFWs like passport issuance and renewal, visa application, civil registry (birth,  marriage, death), notarial,  police clearance etc. It also give assistance to Filipinos in Jeddah for repatriation, labor cases against employer and more.


Below is a map that will guide OFWs to the new location of the Consulate.

What are Allowed in Balikbayan Boxes?

Just few months before Christmas comes,  most of us OFWs in Saudi Arabia,  United Arab Emirates, Europe, United States and Singapore are getting to fill our Balikbayan boxes for our families in Philippines. It's our evidence of being hardwork and sacrifices for our family.
Unfurtunetly, some of us are experienced tampered or half opened  boxes when delivered to our families. Some boxes are even failed to reach the intended receiver.

To avoid this happening,  before we fill the Balikbayan box we must know first what should not be included in the package.

Here are the list of items we must not put in our box,  as ordered by the Department of Trade  and Industry (DTI).

1. Currencies,  checks, money orders and traveler's checks 
2. Jewelries 
3. Firearms, ammunitions, and explosives
4. Prohibited drugs and other subtances
5. Pornographic materials, gambling cards and toy guns 
6. Pirated products like DVD, CD
7. Items that are of commercial quantity 
8. Plant seeds and plant materials
9. Any food stuff that are not in cans, sealed packages or bottles 

We must remember these lists of items not to send through Balikbayan boxes or it will placed on hold by the Bureau of Customs on which they may face charges against violations.


Additional LIST OF PROHIBITED AND RESTRICTED ITEMS IN BALIKBAYAN BOX as per Bureau of Customs

IMAGE COURTESY OF LBC EXPRESS

DOLE 24/7 Hotline 1349

DOLE Launched 24/7 Hotline 1349
for Local and Overseas Work-Ralated Concerns and Inquiries


The Department of Labor and Employment launched the 24/7 Hotline 1349 for local and overseas work-related concerns and inquiries.


The DOLE 24/7 Hotline will be managed by its Labor Communication Office with 10 call centers and operate in shifts from 6-2pm, 2-10pm, 10-6am.

Filipinos calling DOLE's 24/7 Hotline abroad won't pay anything; DOLE will collect charges.

No OEC for Qualified Balik-Manggagawa OFWs

No OEC for Qualified Balik-Manggagawa OFWs

Balik,manggagawa Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) will soon be exempted from the overseas employment certificate or OEC requirement.

Department of Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre Bello III announced a group of OFWs will be the first to try the no OEC policy for balik-manggagawa starting tomorrow September 15, 2016.

The signed Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) Governing Board Resolution No. 12, Series of 2016 will waive the OFWs OEC requirement if they are:
(1) Returning to the same employer and job site and listed in the POEA's database of OFWs
(2) Hired through POEA's Government  Placement Branch.

An OFW balik-manggagawa shall register at bmonline.ph and encode personal and employment details before their departure date to validate if they are exempted from obtaining OEC. The OFWs updated profile will be forwarded to the Bureau of Immigration to serve as basis for clearance to exit the country without of processing fees.

For OFWs who will go to the airport failing to register first to BM Online System will be referred by the Bureau of Immigration to the POEA's Labor Assistance Counter (LAC) for evaluation and determine if the worker may be cleared for departure or needs to further complete their travel documents.

The resolution is issued following the order of President Duterte to streamline processes in the deployment of OFWs, to afford them facility and ease in transaction before government offices. POEA is already implementing Balik-Manggagawa Online Processing System which has eliminated the long lines at its offices but still needs to improve system for OFWs who are returning to the same employer and job site.

Probation Period Under Saudi Labor Law

Probation Period Under Latest Saudi Labor Law


This article is important for every expatriates and fellow OFW working in Saudi Arabia. Every country has its own labor law which will guide both parties 'Employer and Employee' to stick on it in any situations.

Article (53) in Latest Saudi Labor Law:

- If an employee is subject to probation period, the fact should be explicitly state and mention clearly with in the employment contract, It should be not exceed in 90 days.

-In case both parties agreed in documents, the 90 days probation period can be extendable for another 90 days a total of 180 days (As per 38 Amendments of Saudi Labor Law ) enclusive sick leaves and Eid-Adha, Eid al-Fitr holidays.

Article (54) in Latest Saudi Labor Law:

-An employee should not be placed on probation period more than once by the same employer.

-As an exception to the above rule, An employee may, however and with the approval of the contract parties, be subject to another probation period of not more than 90 days on the condition that this period is for another work or profession.

-If the contract is terminated during the probation period, neither party shall be entitled to compensation nor shall an employee be entitled to End of Service Award.

-As per amended lasbor law, An employee can be placed on additional probation period with both parties agreed on a document, If the relationship between both parties has expired for a period of 6 or more months.

Related Articles : Vacations and Leaves in Saudi Arabia,  Working Hours,  Overtime