Saudi Arabia has granted the Philippines' appeal to exempt the thousands of overstaying and illegally working Filipinos in the kingdom from the payment of all charges and penalties before they leave the kingdom, Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said Monday.

She said the kingdom had issued new guidelines allowing the undocumented Filipinos to avoid jail and eventual deportation and giving them two options to legalize their stay: return to the Philippines or find a new employer and stay.

Read more: Saudi Allows Illegal OFWs to Leave Without Penalties