Conduct proof: Brief relief for some workers
dubai — The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) has suspended the requirement for a certificate of good conduct (CGC) for new Filipino and Indonesian domestic workers until June this year.
The MoHRE recently issued a circular to this effect to all Tasheel Centres, that are in charge of processing the employment of household service workers.
Philippine Consul-General Paul Raymund Cortes told Khaleej
Times the suspension is applicable only to household service workers. These include housemaids, house cooks, security guards, drivers, gardeners and other household workers.
dubai — The Philippine and Indonesian consul-generals in Dubai welcomed the move by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE), which has suspended the requirement for a Certificate of Good Conduct (CGC) for new Filipino and Indonesian domestic workers until June this year.
The MoHRE recently issued a circular to all Tasheel centres, which are in charge of processing the employment of household service workers (HSWs), ordering the suspension of requiring a CGC or police clearance certificate for Filipino and Indonesian housemaids. Khaleej Times spoke to two Arabic and English speaking staff who confirmed the circular.
On Monday, Philippine consulgeneral Paul Raymund Cortes told Khaleej Times: “We welcome the move by the MoHRE to give more time for our HSWs to secure police clearance certificates. This move would give them at least four months to obtain the new requirement. “But we’d like to reiterate that the suspension is applicable only to household service workers,” Cortes added. Those who fall under the category of HSWs are housemaids, house cooks, security guards, drivers, gardeners and other household workers.
All expats applying for new work visas in the UAE are subjected to security background checks and required to submit a police clearance from their home countries, or the country of their residence for the past five years, as a move to strengthen security in the UAE, according to authorities. “Nevertheless, the move would also ease the backlog at the consulate,” added Cortes, who noted a surge of job aspirants and visit visa holders rushing to the Philippine Consulate after the CGC requirement came into effect on February 4. Meanwhile, Joy, a Filipina expat who told Khaleej Times earlier about the delay in getting a CGC, said she is yet to process the certificate as the fee is a bit expensive.
An estimated 70,000 Filipinos
We would like to reiterate that the suspension is applicable only to (Filipino and Indonesian) household service workers.” Paul Raymund Cortes, Philippine consul general
work as HSWs and the total number of Filipinos in Dubai are around 500,000, the consulate said.
Jakarta is informed
Indonesian consul-general Arzaf Firman also welcomed the CGC suspension. Firman said: “It’s good for us since Indonesia is still pro-
I really encourage that any new law be implemented after a period of time after disseminating it to the public.” Arzaf Firman, Indonesian consul general
cessing the policy domestically.” Indonesians have to acquire the certificate from the nearest police station back home.
The diplomat also observed the lack of clarity on obtaining CGC continues to spell confusion among job aspirants and visit visa holders. “We just informed Jakarta of the new policy. Now that it has been postponed, I really encourage that any new law be implemented after a period of time after disseminating it to the public.” There are around 90,000 Indonesians in the UAE, and 80 per cent of them are employed as domestic workers.