Employment opportunities await pandemic-displaced overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and jobseekers amid the re-opening of the economy in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the labor department reported over the weekend.
This was announced by Labor Attaché John Rio Bautista of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Dubai, UAE as Dubai Duty Free said it will rehire its more than 600 Filipino employees.
“During the pandemic, Dubai Duty Free needed to layoff some workers. But with the revival of the economy here, the management reached out to us and we have a special facilitation for them. More than 600 Filipino workers will be coming back and their salary is competitive. Every week we process not less than 100 contracts for OFWs who will be re-hired,” said Bautista in a virtual briefing on Friday.
Aside from opportunities in the retail sector, Bautista said employers in the health sector have also expressed interest to hire Filipino health professionals.
Meanwhile, over 8,000 job orders for household service workers (HSWs) have been verified by POLO since early April and around 6,000 to 7,000 HSWs have already arrived in Dubai.
“The initial implementation of the memorandum of understanding between the Philippines and UAE is really fruitful. The benefits for our HSWs, as instructed by President Duterte, are stated in the comprehensive employment contract. For instance, is the provision of the minimum wage amounting to 1,500 Dirhams,” the Labor Attaché said.
Bautista added that since the implementation of the accord, distressed Filipinos housed at the shelter have also lessened to 10 on average.
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III welcomed the good news shared by POLO Dubai and at the same time, reminded overseas jobseekers to go through the proper process and to visit the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration’s website to verify the legitimacy of job offers.
Meanwhile, with the inclusion of the UAE in the ‘green list’ travel restriction implemented by the Philippines, POLO Dubai is seeing a rise in the number of OFWs who want to go home in time for the Christmas season.
Bautista said the POLO processes documents of around 200 OFWs daily who will go back to the Philippines.
“Daily, we process 200 contract verifications. This is aside from the Balik Manggagawa or those who will come back to the same employer. They do not need to go personally at the POLO for contract verification. They only need to visit the POEA online portal,” said the Labor Attaché. -aldm/rir
