The Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in the Philippines has released new minimum age requirement for several categories of Filipino workers who will be recruited for deployment in the Kingdom. The new age limits of Saudi-bound Filipino workers were released by Consul Faisal H. Al-Kahtani, head of the consular section and are effective immediately. The new minimum age requirements for the following categories are as follows: Domestic helper – 21 years, female nurse and flight attendant – 21 years, babysitter (should be Muslim) – 21 years, dressmaker – 30 years, salesman for textiles and ladies wear apparel shops – 40 years, barber – 35 years, physical therapist – 35 years, family driver – 21 years, and male worker – 21 years. Al Kahtani, in his circular to Saudi Embassy accredited recruitment agencies, said the new age limit will be strictly enforced. He said job agencies that violate the new age limit requirement will be penalized. An official of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO), Philippine Embassy in Riyadh, said the reason for setting the new age limit could be the need to establish the maturity of the workers, particularly domestic workers.
