Philippines to send domestic workers to UAE after agreeing a new deal

The Philippine government’s ban on domestic workers leaving for the UAE will soon be lifted after the two countries signed an agreement yesterday.

Saqr Ghobash, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation, and Silvestre Bello, secretary of the Philippine labour department, signed an agreement paving the way for domestic workers to be recruited again.

For the past three years, Manila has enforced a ban on citizens wanting to work in homes in the UAE and some other Gulf states. This was partly caused by unscrupulous recruiters and a large number of complaints of abuse by maids.

But since Manila’s refusal to stamp new contracts, its citizens have continued to travel on visit visas to find work; some recruiters hired Filipinos for jobs, then moved them into domestic work. Others have been stopped at airports.

State news agency Wam reported that Mr Ghobash said the agreement was the result of “many consultations held between the two countries”, which began when the Cabinet recently gave the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation responsibility for overseeing domestic workers.

Future work contracts would be based on a new “model contract”, approved by both countries. UAE recruiters would have to send the contract to the employee in the Philippines, which would be approved by Manila. The document would be signed by the employer and worker on arrival in the UAE.

Only recruiters approved by the Ministry would be able to offer contracts. The measures are designed to ensure all involved are aware of workers’ rights, the job they would be performing and that there is no dispute over pay or conditions.

Barney Almazar, a lawyer for the Philippine embassy, said the aim was to ensure both governments knew who was working where, and that their rights were upheld. “The UAE Government has been saying, ‘We are the host country and it is our duty to protect them’, and that is the case whether they are domestic workers or high professionals,” Mr Almazar said.

There are about a million Filipinos in the UAE; 20 per cent of whom are domestic workers. Changes to the law setting out rights and conditions for workers were approved by the Federal National Council in May.

The bill stipulates a weekly day off, 30 days’ paid holiday and at least 12 hours of rest a day, including eight consecutive hours off. The right for workers to keep their passports and identity cards was also laid down.