EMBASSY REPORTS NO VACANCY FOR DOMESTIC HELPERS IN EGYPT

29 January 2008 – The Philippine Embassy in Cairo reported to the Department that there are no legal jobs available for foreign domestic helpers in Egypt. The Egyptian Government  issues working permits and visas only to foreign domestic helpers, if employed by foreign diplomats accredited to Egypt.

Filipinos who seek jobs in Egypt as domestic helpers are in danger of arrest by the Egyptian immigration authorities for lack of valid visas and working permits.

Filipino domestic service workers in Egypt who have no pertinent documents do not enjoy labor protection, hence, are vulnerable to abuse and maltreatment.

In past cases, the Embassy has found Filipino domestic helpers using the following modes to enter Egypt:

1.     Recruitment as domestic workers purportedly for a neighboring country like Jordan, United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait, but later brought to Egypt by their sponsors for delivery to their real employers.

The third-country approach is commonly used because Egyptian immigration laws allow foreign employers to bring with them their foreign domestic helpers when they vacation in Egypt.

2.     Recruitment as skilled workers (e.g., factory workers, nurses, hotel service staff, etc.) under a scheme that allows highly-skilled foreigners to work in Egypt.

The scheme is abused by some employers who hoodwink Filipinos to come to Egypt as skilled workers only to make them work as domestic helpers.

3.     Entry into Egypt as tourists and work as domestic helpers. Eventually, they overstay and are locked up in the homes of their employers to avoid trouble due to their illegal immigration status.

When the OFW’s demand payment of their salaries or to be repatriated, they are abandoned at the Philippine Embassy, overworked, unpaid and victims of maltreatment, or subjected to frivolous accusations of theft by their  employers, as a means to avoid paying their wages and/ or plane fares back to the Philippines.

/wingret