No mention of the denial of a renewed work permit to a non-Palestinian foreign worker with an employment sponsor in Saudi Arabia could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. However, a representative of an organization called Friends of Filipino Migrant Workers (Kaibigan), Inc., in Quezon City, The Philippines, which provides services to Filipino overseas contract workers (OCWs), stated that

To date, around 120,000 overseas contract workers passed through our pre-departure orientation seminars, most of them bound for the Middle East. So far we have not had any case of OCWs being denied [re-entry] by the Saudi immigration [authorities]. As far as we know, only those who have derogatory records from their previous employers are denied visa and entry permits. OCWs knew that once they were deported with a bad release, usually they no longer try to go back and work in Saudi Arabia. Most of them just apply for work in another Middle East country, in Hong Kong, Taiwan or Singapore (21 Nov. 1999).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Friends of Filipino Migrant Workers (Kaibigan), Inc., Quezon City, The Philippines. 21 November 1999. Correspondence.

IRB databases, Global News Bank, FBIS, LEXIS/NEXIS, WNC.

Internet Websites, including:

International Labour Organization.

Migration News.

Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Washington, D.C.

One oral source contacted did not provide information on the requested subject.