The Philippines and the United Arab Emirates drew closer to forging a bilateral agreement that would ensure the rights of Filipino domestic workers in the UAE.
Philippine Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said the UAE may prepare by November a detailed agreement patterned after the Philippines’ agreement with Saudi Arabia.
“A note verbale has been given regarding this but they said they will prepare a more detailed agreement, patterned after our bilateral agreement with Saudi Arabia by November this year,” she said, according to a report posted on Gulf News Tuesday night.
She added UAE labor minister Saqr Ghobash had assured her they are “willing to sit down with us to discuss the affairs of the Filipino household service workers here in the UAE.”
Last May, the Philippines and Saudi Arabia signed a bilateral agreement that assures Filipino housemaids a minimum wage of $400 a month. The household helpers are also entitled to weekly days off and rest periods, paid annual leave, and humane treatment.
The Gulf News report said such an agreement with the UAE may address issues such as underpayment, contract substitution, overwork, and mistreatment of maids.
“For now, we do not hesitate in blacklisting agencies and employers from our list if they do not agree to abide by our labor laws,” Baldoz was quoted as saying in the report.
48-hour policy
The Gulf News also quoted Baldoz as saying that the Philippine labor office in Dubai has started implementing the 48-hour rule for the housemaids’ recruitment companies to provide return tickets for repatriation.
Philippine rules stipulate return tickets of housemaids are to be shouldered by recruitment agencies if they are to be repatriated.
While in the UAE, Baldoz met with some 50 distressed Filipina workers, most of whom worked as domestic workers, and told them not to lose hope for the future.
She also urged them to avail of government skills-training programs. — KBK, GMA News
September 18 –
International Equal Pay Day
“Increase wages now,
more than other cost items.
For widespread, practical equality!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the recommendations of the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry
against serious violations of protocols of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association.
Accept the National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar. Reject Military!
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September –
5 Sept – Intl Day of Charity
7 Sept – Intl Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies
8 Sept – International Literacy Day
12 Sept – United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation
15 Sept – International Day of Democracy
16 Sept – International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer
17 Sept – World Patient Safety Day
18 Sept – International Equal Pay Day
21 Sept – International Day of Peace
26 Sept – International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons
27 Sept – World Tourism Day
28 Sept – International Day for Universal Access to Information
29 Sept – International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste
30 Sept – World Maritime Day
Monthly Observances:
Health, Safety and Sanitation Month
National Clean-up Month
Civil Service Month
National Peace Consciousness Month
Social Security Month
Rule of Law Month
National Teachers’ Month (Sept 5-Oct 4)
Weekly Observances:
Sept 17 – 23:
World Clean and Green Week
Week 2: Education Week
Week 4: Medicine Week
Last Week: National Family Week
Daily Observances:
Third Saturday:
International Coastal Clean-up Day
Third Monday: World Health Day
Last Friday: National Maritime Day
Sept 8: National Literacy Day
Sept 15: Philippine Medicine Day
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