OFWs in UAE await better working conditions

ABU DHABI – Over 475,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the United Arab Emirates will be enjoying better working conditions.

Speaking to some 100 foreign journalists during the country’s 43rd founding anniversary on Tuesday, UAE Foreign Affairs Minister Anwar Gargash said the government aims to further improve its labor laws, and that they give importance to relations with the Philippines.

“And I think this continues to be work in progress, so this is something I think that is also important in our relations (with the Philippines),” he said.

Gargash said the labor issue is among the “strategic interests” of the UAE in the Philippines and other countries in East Asia.

“East Asia labor has played an important role in our development as a nation – whether they are from the Philippines, or India, Pakistan or Sri Lanka, and many others of these countries,” he said.

Gargash said East Asian countries buy 95 percent of the UAE’s oil.

“Today, more and more our relations with East Asia are becoming more proud,” he said.

“Clearly we have a strategic interest in many countries in East Asia. And from that perspective I think more and more we try and seek partnerships with various countries in East Asia, whether it’s some of the larger countries such as China or some of the other important countries such as the Philippines.” 

Gargash believes the Philippines appreciates the improving labor conditions of OFWs in the UAE.

A bilateral agreement with the Philippines is reportedly being drafted to protect the rights of Filipino domestic workers and which is patterned after the agreement with Saudi Arabia.

The agreement with Saudi Arabia in May last year assured Filipina housemaids a minimum wage of $400 a month.

They are also entitled to weekly days off and rest periods, paid annual leave and humane treatment.

The same formula was supposedly being eyed to deal with issues like underpayment, contract substitution, overwork and mistreatment of Filipina maids in the UAE.

Gargash said the UAE wanted to come up with a more “dynamic” policy to deal with the needs of domestic helpers and other Filipino workers.

The Filipino community in the UAE is growing, and policies should not be limited to domestic workers, he added.

Earlier this year, the UAE implemented a new policy suspending the verification of contracts of Filipina household service workers.

Discussions are underway since the policy is contrary to Philippine law.