RP eyes amendments in labor pacts with UAE
11/07/2009 | 09:55 AM
In a bid to strengthen protection for overseas Filipino workers (OFW), the Philippine government is eyeing amendments in its labor agreement with the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
A report on UAE-based Khaleej Times said Rep. Rufus Rodriguez made the disclosure after a dialogue with distressed
Filipino workers in Dubai.
“We have found out some of the agents in Manila with partners in UAE registered at (the Philippine Overseas Labor Office) POLO as foreign principals are into human trafficking who forced our workers into prostitution," said Rodriguez, who chairs the House of Representatives
committee on overseas workers affairs.
He said other issues involve contract substitution and holding of Philippine passports by employers, based on the accounts of distressed workers and legitimate documented reports.
Under Philippine and UAE laws, Filipino passports should not be surrendered to anyone except to legitimate authorities like the court and police.
“But our workers here have been stranded at the POLO-OWWA because their passports have been kept by their employers who refused to turn them over to the Immigration or cancel their work permit unless our workers refund their expenses," said Rodriguez.
He said 15 distressed Filipino workers at POLO are stranded because their employers refused to turn over their passports unless their expenses were refunded.
Rodriguez also said there is a need to set aside Dh80,000 (P1.043 million) to pay for this refund request and the fines for those whose work permits have been cancelled by their employers but their passports have been withheld.
Also, he said the Philippine government is currently considering a law that will enforce stricter measures for the accreditation of manpower agencies that hire Filipino workers.
Labor attaché Virginia Calvez said less than 50 manpower agents are pre-qualified and accredited with POLO in Dubai. - GMANews.TV
A report on UAE-based Khaleej Times said Rep. Rufus Rodriguez made the disclosure after a dialogue with distressed
Filipino workers in Dubai.
“We have found out some of the agents in Manila with partners in UAE registered at (the Philippine Overseas Labor Office) POLO as foreign principals are into human trafficking who forced our workers into prostitution," said Rodriguez, who chairs the House of Representatives
committee on overseas workers affairs.
He said other issues involve contract substitution and holding of Philippine passports by employers, based on the accounts of distressed workers and legitimate documented reports.
Under Philippine and UAE laws, Filipino passports should not be surrendered to anyone except to legitimate authorities like the court and police.
“But our workers here have been stranded at the POLO-OWWA because their passports have been kept by their employers who refused to turn them over to the Immigration or cancel their work permit unless our workers refund their expenses," said Rodriguez.
He said 15 distressed Filipino workers at POLO are stranded because their employers refused to turn over their passports unless their expenses were refunded.
Rodriguez also said there is a need to set aside Dh80,000 (P1.043 million) to pay for this refund request and the fines for those whose work permits have been cancelled by their employers but their passports have been withheld.
Also, he said the Philippine government is currently considering a law that will enforce stricter measures for the accreditation of manpower agencies that hire Filipino workers.
Labor attaché Virginia Calvez said less than 50 manpower agents are pre-qualified and accredited with POLO in Dubai. - GMANews.TV
