RP working out better insurance for Filipina maids in UAE

About 25,000 Filipino women working as domestic helpers in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) stand to benefit from improved insurance terms sought by Philippine officials there. Nasser Munder, Philippine labor attaché at the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi, said they were working out a deal with an insurance firm for extra coverage for housemaids. “We are also planning to sign a memorandum of understanding with Oman Insurance Company in the near future as we have invited them to discuss modalities of the policy that would provide extra cover to housemaids," Munder said in an interview with UAE-based Khaleej Times. He noted that of the 350,000 Filipinos in the UAE, 25,000 are Filipina housemaids. “We intend to improve the insurance cover for housemaids," he added. The plan comes amid similar arrangements being mapped out by diplomatic missions of other countries to provide housemaids comprehensive insurance cover. The insurance cover will apply to repatriation, death and court expenses. Generally, insurance policies that sponsors provide to housemaids only have medical cover, the Khaleej Times report said. The Bangladesh Consulate in Dubai has signed a deal with the Oman Insurance Company in Dubai, which offers domestic workers full health coverage and other benefits. The insurance policy will cost about P2,537 for three years, and will paid by the sponsors. — NPA, GMANews.TV