Since the Philippines’ action of deployment ban to Kuwait, other countries in the Middle East are taking action. Moreover, the President of the UAE His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, signed the Domestic Workers Law or Federal Law No. 10 of 2017. This stipulates better working conditions for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs). What the country aims is that Filipino workers in the country are to be taken care of especially domestic workers.
This new law can be considered as protection or domestic workers’ bill of rights.
In this article, we are going to answer some of the questions you might have that revolve around this newly signed law:
- What does this law implement?
- Would this prevent the unfortunate happenings in Kuwait?
- Could this be the start of freedom for OFWs in the Middle East?
Under this certain law, domestic workers are given:
- Payment of wages, as set out in the standard contract, within ten days from the day they are due;
- Employers need to provide medical insurance to domestic workers;
- One day of paid rest per week;
- A decent accommodation;
- Twelve hours of rest per day, including eight hours of consecutive rest;
- Thirty days of medical leave annually;
- If clothing is required by a certain employer, it needs to be at their expense;
- A round-trip ticket home every two years;
- Decent meals at the employer’s expense;
- Possession of their personal identification papers such as passports, IDs etc; and
- Either the employer or the worker can refer a dispute to the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation. The ministry will attempt to resolve the dispute amicably within a period of two weeks. If no resolution is reached, then the matter will be referred to a court. Under this law, cases filed by workers are exempted from court fees at all stages of litigation and must be heard in a speedy and prompt manner.
Taken from loc.gov
Moreover, the new law restricts the following:
- Exposure and vulnerability to physical harm;
- Employment of people under the age of eighteen years old (18);
- Task assignments not involved or written in the contract
These new law is strictly imposed to OFWs who are domestic workers and households and not those who work in companies. OFWs positively affected are:
- Housemaid
- Domestic laborer
- Security guard
- Babysitter
- Private sailor
- Household shepherd
- Watchman
- Housekeeper
- Private teacher
- Private nurse
- Family chauffeur
- Private agriculture engineer
- Household horse groomer
- Household falcon carer and trainer
- Private coach
- Household farmer
- Private PRO
After this was set up, the Bahrani government made their motion of announcing that they are protecting the rights of Filipino workers in the Kingdom. Bahrain Prime Minister Prince Khalifa Bin Salman Al Khalifa made this assurance after the unfortunate occurrences and news in Kuwait.
What do you think about this news? Would this fully protect the rights of our loved ones in the Middle East? Or do you think this is just a gimmick run by governments for our President not to withdraw workers out of their countries?
Stay tuned for more updates.