The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in Manila announced that no illegal Filipino expats have been arrested in the Kingdom so far.

“We have not received reports that anyone has been arrested. We are making enquiries at local police stations, detention cells and other areas,” Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario said.

The embassy said that under the new rules, foreign workers who work illegally for a person who is not their sponsor, those who absconded from their sponsors and visa-overstayers will be apprehended, penalized and deported.

“Those who employ illegal or absconded workers or who provide cover, harbor or transport them or aid them by any means, will be pursued,” the embassy said in a statement.

Employers will also bear the cost of deportation of illegal workers except when the foreign worker works for himself. Then he will bear the cost of his own deportation.

“Illegal workers who are unable to afford the travel ticket will be deported at the cost of the Saudi government,” the embassy said.

Overstayers will be deported at the expense of the employer, or if he works for himself, the company or person who sponsored his visit will bear the cost of deportation.

All companies and individual employers, including government agencies, are responsible for ensuring that their workers obtain and renew their iqamas in due time.

Deported foreign workers shall be prohibited from returning to the Kingdom and offending foreigners will be accommodated in Saudi government centers pending deportation.