Philippines to resume deployment of domestic workers to the UAE from March 31

The Philippines will resume the deployment of domestic workers to the UAE starting March 31, the Philippine News Agency (PNA) has announced.

The decision was reached following a two-day meeting between delegations from both the countries in Manila.

The deployment of Filipino workers to the UAE has been suspended since 2014.

As part of the new agreement, the UAE’s Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) confirmed that Filipino domestic workers would be recruited via official and accredited entities in both countries.

The agreement will control and regulate the recruitment process, maintain the rights of all involved parties, and reduce the overall costs of this process, said Saif Al Suwaidi, under-secretary at the MOHRE.

Concluding a series of meetings held in the Philippines between a delegate from #MOHRE & senior Filipino officials, it was announced that starting April; the UAE will import domestic workers from the Philippines through the officially authorized channels in both countries. #UAE pic.twitter.com/dQV6mYitQh

— MOHRE_UAE وزارة الموارد البشرية والتوطين (@MOHRE_UAE) March 2, 2021

As part of the agreement, a Unified Employment Contract (UEC) will be put in place for all Filipino domestic workers, PNA reported.

The contract includes provisions such as:

1. A domestic worker must have at least eight continuous hours of sleep every night

2. The worker should be allowed to take a break that is paid, outside the residence of the employer at least one day every week

3. The domestic worker should be permitted keep his/her passport or identification documents

4. The employer shall allow the domestic worker to have and use cellular phones and other communication devices

5. Opening of bank account under the name of the domestic worker for payment of salary

6. Allowing the domestic worker to cook her or his own food.