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By Jomar Canlas, Reporter
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia: Authorities here now
recognizes more women’s rights, an official from the conservative
government said.
This long-delayed recognition also bears on all
woman expatriates in the country, including Filipino woman workers.
During a meeting on Wednesday between Commission
on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) Chairman Dante A. Ang and Saudi Arabian
Prince Talal Abdul Aziz Al Saud, the latter announced that women
staying in his country are now allowed to enter hotels and furnished
apartments without a chaperon or “mahram.” (See related story
page D3.)
The country also now allows girls and boys to be
mixed in school classrooms.
The prince said a Royal Decree has been issued
implementing the order that gives more rights to women.
Also present in the meeting was Philippine
Ambassador to Riyadh, Antonio Villamor. The meeting was held at the
prince’s office in the Arabian Gulf for United Nations Development
Organization.
The Saudi prince is a known advocate of the
rights of women and children. In fact, he was the first person to
put up a girls school in his country.
Before, even adult women are not allowed to
enter hotels and apartments unless accompanied by guardians.
With the Royal Decree, the only requirement
needed to allow women to enter hotels are their national ID cards,
and the hotel must inform the nearest police station of their room
reservation and length of stay.
Women living in Saudi Arabia lauded that latest
move of the government, particularly those who had to travel alone
for purposes of trading, education or if they have been assigned to
other destinations.
The Kingdom is known for its very conservative
observance of Muslim religion. Women staying in the country
must wear the floor-length black abaya, or light gown. Previously,
they were disallowed to talk to men in the streets and even enter
hotels alone.
During their meeting, Prince Talal informed
Chairman Ang of the latest move of the Saudi Arabian kingdom to
allow schools to mix boys and girls inside classrooms.
Ang, whose office supervises and approves
licenses of Philippine schools abroad, lauded the move of the Saudi
government as it would give additional rights to women and make
education and school management easier.
He praised the efforts of the Saudi government,
especially Prince Talal, for fighting for the rights of women and
children.
Also, Ambassador Villamor discussed the plight
of the overseas Filipino workers in Saudi Arabia.
Villamor wanted to ensure the welfare of the 1.2
million Filipinos under his jurisdiction and guard against contract
substitution.
Contract substitution happens when the original
contract signed in Manila is changed once the employee enters Saudi
Arabia, a practice that leads to the exploitation of overseas
workers, the envoy explained.
In the event of a contract substitution, many
contract workers do not complain anymore if they find the new terms
offer them lower pay or make them do jobs they did not sign up for.
They reason out that they have to earn back the money used to pay
for their placement fee, and documentation and travel costs.
Officials said the Saudi government has promised
to see to it that the welfare of the Filipinos will be looked into,
adding they do not want to abuse “the sweat of Filipinos
abroad.”
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