What Filipino expats in UAE struggle with most. A legal expert identifies the common issues encountered by overseas Filipino workers in the UAE.
Read the full Gulf News article:
http://gulfnews.com/news/uae/society/what-filipino-expats-in-uae-struggle-with-most-1.2059997
See more at: http://gulfnews.com/gntv
Read the full Gulf News article:
http://gulfnews.com/news/uae/society/what-filipino-expats-in-uae-struggle-with-most-1.2059997
See more at: http://gulfnews.com/gntv
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00is on my four years of doing the free legal aid, I have come up with the summary of the most common
00:05problems of Filipinos in the UAE. Actually, this can be summarized into five letter I's.
00:11My name is Barney Almasar. I'm the author of the Essential OFW Guide to UAE. I'm also the
00:17head of the free legal aid clinics at the Philippine Embassy and Consulate. The first
00:21letter I will be indebtedness, and this would cover cases such as bounced checks, unpaid credit
00:27cards, and loans, giving your passport as their guarantee, being victimized by loan sharks. The
00:32most common reason why Filipinos would end up in this situation is that they have not yet been
00:38accustomed to a new lifestyle. They are earning more here in the UAE, and because they failed to
00:43adjust instantly, they tend to overspend. So you would see people who have minimum payment dues
00:50that are far exceeding their monthly income. So there is no way that you would be able to get
00:56yourself out of debt if you continue spending more than your income. The second I is intoxication.
01:02The reason why a lot of Filipinos would fall into this problem is because back in the Philippines,
01:09consumption of alcohol is a regular thing. It's not regulated. But in the UAE, you have to secure
01:15first an alcohol license before you can purchase or consume alcohol. Somehow on the same level as
01:21intoxication is cases regarding illegal drugs. This would range from recreational drugs that are
01:27being retailed on the street and those who are caught in a possession. So there are sellers and
01:33there are users of the illegal drugs. The third letter I is immorality or what we call the love
01:41cases. Back in the Philippines, having a relationship without the benefit of marriage is not
01:47criminally sanctioned. However, under the UAE law, living together in one roof, even if there's no
01:53sexual activity, if you're male and female, will be already considered as a criminal offense.
01:59Typically, this situation is heightened when the woman becomes pregnant. When you have to deliver
02:04the baby, you have to provide your marriage certificate to prove that you are married.
02:10If they are unable to do that, of course, it's a clear indication that they have violated
02:15the law. The fourth I is illegal recruitment or cases involving problems with their employers or
02:21from their agencies in the Philippines. The usual cases that we face are contract substitution.
02:26That is, their contract that they signed in the Philippines, when they reach Dubai or any parts of
02:31the UAE, the terms and conditions of their employment is inferior. Other cases would be
02:38people coming here on a tourist or visit visa and it's difficult for them to find employment.
02:44The reason why they would come here without a working visa is because it's difficult for them
02:48in the Philippines to secure the approval of the government for them to be able to leave the
02:53country and work abroad. It's a tedious process that they have to undergo before the immigration
02:58officers in the Philippines would let them leave the country. So what is happening when they are
03:03here in the UAE? The employers would know that they are on a tourist visa on a limited stay.
03:08That's why the employers would have more bargaining power. The employee will just have to accept
03:13whatever terms and conditions the employer is giving because they don't have any choice. But
03:19then that would trigger them to look for another job while they are on an employment visa already.
03:24And this would attract labor ban, court cases regarding labor because they are unable to finish
03:29their contractual obligations with their employers. Others would just buy visas so that they can
03:34legally stay in the country, which is of course illegal because you can only work for the sponsor
03:39shouldering your visa. The fifth I is improper documents or those that would deal with forged
03:46documents or falsified certificates. Like for example, securing a fake tenancy contract for
03:52you to be able to sponsor your wife or your spouse or and your children. This is being trapped not
03:59just by the immigration but also together with the other government institutions. If you present a
04:05falsified document, especially if it bears the stamp or the seal of the UAE government,
04:10the punishment is stiffer compared to falsifying private documents.