Philippine Consulate General, dubai  assists Filipinos IN workPLACE TENSION

22 January 2007 — Consul General Antonio Curameng of the Philippine Consulate General in Dubai, United Arab Emirates reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that the Consulate has provided assistance to 106 Filipinos who sought the Consulate’s help after tensions broke out on 20 January 2007 between Filipino and Egyptian workers of the Arabian Aluminum Company in Dubai.  

Consul General Curameng also reported that, upon his and the Filpino workers’ request, the company management has separated and placed the Filipinos and Egyptians in separate work camps.   

Based on reports reaching the Consulate, the conflict with the Egyptian workers began in the early evening of 20 January, when some Egyptians, who were playing football, hit a Filipino. The Filipino took offense, starting the fight between the two groups. UAE police arrived at the scene, pacified the group, and then left. 

Later that evening, another commotion ensued as a group of Egyptians banged doors and broke windows to enter the Filipinos’ sleeping quarters. The police returned. Six Filipinos were brought to the Al Qusais Police Station for investigation.   

Consul General Curameng sent a Consulate official to the police station to check on the condition of the Filipinos. Consul General Curameng, Labor Attaché Virginia Calvez, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Officer Eduardo Mendoza, Jr., Assistance-to-Nationals (ATN) Officer Rafael Palencia, Jr. and PRO Casim Ali Guro conferred with the Filipinos and then met with company management on issues raised by the Filipino workers, particularly their safety and security when they return to camp. 

The company representatives headed by Operations Manager Bashar Kayafi, Project Logistics Engineer Merwan Abdo, and Office Administrator Rafael Diaz, Jr. assured the Consul General that the company will provide the Filipinos with the following: 

•     Full medical attention for the nine Filipinos injured in the incidents, including confinement in hospital if necessary, with full payment of basic salary

•     Transfer of the Filipinos to a new camp so that they will be separated from the Egyptian workers

•     Full 24-hour security in the camp to prevent recurrence of the incident.

The company likewise informed Consul General Curameng that they will bail out the six Filipinos who are at the Al Qusais Police Station. 

Consul General Curameng assured the Department that the Consulate will closely monitor the compliance of the company’s guarantees to ensure the safety and security of the Filipino workers.  END

/jay

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