23 August 2005 – Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs Jose S. Brillantes assured that the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is taking all measures to protect the welfare of OFWs in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) as he appealed to prospective OFWs to undergo the proper orientation and training by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) before considering offers to work as domestic workers in the UAE

Undersecretary Brillantes issued this appeal after receiving the report of the recently-opened Philippine Consulate General in Dubai in the UAE that  in the past weeks there has been a dramatic increase in cases of OFWs seeking assistance from the Consulate.

Consul General in Dubai Generoso G. Calonge informed the DFA that from only 20 to 30 OFW seeking the Consulate’s assistance for the past six months, this number has recently increased  to more than 60 OFWs housed in the Consulate’s Filipino Workers Resource Center (FWRC), which is managed by the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO).

Undersecretary Brillantes said that given the situation in Dubai and these latest developments, the DFA is now coordinating with DOLE on ways to protect the welfare of OFWs especially domestic workers in Dubai and to provide adequate orientation and training to prospective OFWs for UAE.

Undersecretary Brillantes added that the DFA is also considering the immediate repatriation of the OFWs residing in the FWRC with the Consulate coordinating with the employers for the endorsement of the exit permits for their respective employees.

Consul General Calonge said that OFWs, particularly domestic workers under the jurisdiction of the Consulate in Dubai, are vulnerable to abuse, maltreatment, contract substitution and other inequitable terms of employment.   These conditions are aggravated, according to Consul General Calonge, by the fact that domestic workers live and work within the four walls of their employers’ residences outside the monitoring and supervisory remedies available to professionals or other office and industrial workers.

Consul General Calonge also reported that the establishment of the Philippine Consulate in Dubai may have contributed to giving Filipino workers in the area more courage to come out with their employment-related concerns.  He added that the Philippine Consulate has given strength and support to the OFWs under their care, especially domestic workers seeking assistance and that the POLO is providing free accommodation at the FWRC for female Filipino workers who have run way from their employers.

Furthermore, Consul General Calonge informed the Department that past experience has shown that the number of domestic workers seeking assistance dramatically increases during the month of October, when many OFW domestics complain of certain forms of abuse, including overwork or working long hours, lack of sleep and serving more than one family.  END