New UAE law to benefit Pinoy domestic workers

By Pia Lee-Brago (The Philippine Star), Sep 28, 2017

MANILA, Philippines — The United Arab Emirates has approved a law that would benefit 120,000 of the 618,000 Filipinos working in the UAE.

The new law provides that wages must be paid within 10 days from the day they are due; one day of paid rest per week; 12 hours of rest per day, including eight hours of consecutive rest; medical insurance provided by the employer; 30 days’ medical leave per year; a round-trip ticket home every two years; decent accommodation; decent meals at employer’s expense; clothing, if required by the employer, at the employer’s expense; and possession of their personal identification papers such as passports and IDs.

The law would cover migrant workers in the UAE who are employed as housemaids, watchmen and security guards, chauffeurs, domestic laborers, housekeepers, private coaches, private teachers, babysitters and private nurses, among others.

The law will take effect two months after it is published in the UAE’s Official Gazette.