At least 160 Filipinas and one Indonesian were arrested for allegedly working illegally at an elite wedding reception at the World Trade Center in the United Arab Emirates.
UAE-based news site Khaleej Times reported Thursday that The Department of Naturalisation and Residency Dubai is looking into the workers’ status after the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) arrested them.
Philippine Labor Attaché Amilbahar Amihasan said his office has sent a request letter for the list of detainees at the Al Aweer Detention Center of the Immigration a day after the arrest.
“We are informed… that the request letter is now with the higher authorities and six of the 160 are handed over to the authorities in other emirates, which issued their residency visa,” he said.
Amihasan added authorities in Manila have already been alerted of the incident.
The report said the arrested women include absconders, those on visit visa and holders of either husband’s visa or employment visa from other sponsors.
It added they were allegedly working part-time at the wedding reception and were caught just before leaving the World Trade Center premises after work at 2 a.m. Friday last week.
Capt. Abdullah Khalid of the Investigation and Follow-Up Section said those under husband’s visa would be released upon surrender of their passports.
All others, particularly absconders and holders of visit visa and employment visa from other sponsors, would be deported if found guilty of illegally working at the time of the arrest.
He said no action would be taken against those who can present proof that they have an offer letter or visa under process, or have permission from their sponsor and the Ministry of Labor to work at the function during the arrest.
Visit visa-holders or holders of visa from other sponsors will be deported as they are not allowed to work in the event under the UAE law.
After the investigation, the cases of the 160 will be forwarded to prosecution and then to court for deportation of those who are found violating the UAE’s labor laws.
The report also cited sources who said the arrested women were hired part-time by five wedding organizing companies, four of which are run by Filipino organizers and one by an Indian.
It quoted one of the wedding organizers who requested anonymity as saying the arrest was triggered by the sighting of one of the absconders working part-time at the wedding reception by her lady employer.
“Her employer rang the CID and they were arrested as the workers finished cleaning the reception area and were ready to leave the World Trade Center,” the source said.
She said two of the organizers were also taken by the CID for interrogation. “I do not know if they are already released,” she said. — LBG/RSJ, GMANews.TV
March –
IT’S WOMEN’S MONTH!
“Respect and support women
every day of the year/s!”
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!
#WearMask #WashHands
#Report Corruption #SearchPosts #TakePicturesVideos
Monthly Observances:
Women’s Role in History Month
Weekly Observances:
Week 1: Environmental Week;
Women’s Week
Week 3: Philippine Industry and “
Made-in-the-Philippines Products Week
Last Week: Protection and Gender-Fair Treatment
of the Girl Child Week
Daily Observances:
March 8: Women’s Rights and
International Peace Day;
National Women’s Day
March 4: Employee Appreciation Day
March 15: World Consumer Rights Day
March 18: Global Recycling Day
March 21: International Day for the Elimination
of Racial Discrimination
March 23: International Day for the Right to the Truth
Concerning Gross Human Rights Violations
and for the Dignity of Victims
March 25: International Day of Remembrance of the
Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade
March 27: Earth Hour
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