Filipino Domestic Workers in UAE Soon To Have Weekly Day-Off and Yearly Paid Leaves!

The Federal National Council (FNC) of the United Arab Emirates has approved a draft federal law on domestic workers.

Under the law, domestic helpers in UAE including Filipinos could soon be entitled to receive a weekly day-off.

According to Emirates New Agency, also known as WAM, the FNC aims to establish a relationship between employers, domestic workers, and recruitment offices.

Read More: Domestic Worker Rights Favored In The 2017 UAE Labor Law

Under the law are the following provisions for all domestic workers to enjoy while working in UAE

1. The mandated 30 days annual paid leave

2. The right to retain personal documents such as passport

3. Daily rest of at least 12 hours, including eight consecutive hours

The proposed legislation shall also protect domestic helpers against physical or verbal sexual abuse, human trafficking, and forced labor.

Read More: Traffic Rules and Fines in the UAE

Earlier, foreign diplomats express concern about the flight of domestic workers working in UAE. This is also the reason why there is a proposal for the legislation that was approved during the 17th session of the second ordinary session of the 16th legislative chapter at its headquarters in Abu Dhabi, chaired by Dr. Amal Abdullah Al Qubaisi, Speaker of FNC.

According to Human Rights Watch Report in 2014 regarding abuse of domestic workers in UAE.

Most of the 99 domestic workers interviewed said that their employers had confiscated their passports to ensure they would not escape. Many said that their employers forced them to work long hours, up to 21 hours a day, with no rest breaks and no day off; did not pay them their full salaries, if they paid at all; gave them little or spoiled food; shouted at them daily; and in some cases, even physically or sexually abused them. Some of these abuses amounted to forced labor or trafficking.

Hundreds of thousands of domestic workers are working in the UAE. They are from the Philippines, Indonesia, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Ethiopia.

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OFW With Cancer and Renal Failure Thrown Out from Employers House in Hong Kong?

Maybe the saddest part of being an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) is getting sick abroad, no family by your side and no one care for you, and the worst thing, you end up on the street, you are being thrown out in the house of your employer because you are now useless.

This is what happened to unnamed domestic helpers in Hong Kong, who, according to a Facebook post of Maria Elizabeth Embry is a victim of maltreatment and abuse.

In the post, the OFW is being thrown out in the street from the apartment of her employer at 2:30 in the morning, despite that the domestic worker is suffering from cancer and acute renal failure.

In the picture, the domestic helper is longing for help while standing in the street of Hong Kong.

The post said the OFW receives a help from a friend that temporarily gives her shelter.

The incident happened as President Rodrigo Duterte will visits Hong Kong after attending the World Economic Forum on ASEAN in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

(President Duterte in ASEAN)

While in Hong Kong the president will meet the Filipino community and OFWs there.

Approximately, there are 210,000 Filipinos in Hong Kong and 194,000 of them are OFWs and most of them are domestic laborers.

Duterte is scheduled to meet the Filipino community in Hong Kong on Saturday night.

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Tips for OFWs Who Wants to Return Home Earlier

Working abroad is not easy and no Overseas Filipino Workers wants to work abroad for the rest of their lives. Of course, no one wants to be separated with their family and loved ones for a very long time.

Every OFW has a goal to be home for good for the shortest time as possible.

According to Vince Rapisura, president of the Social Enterprise Development Partnership in Rappler's Article, OFWs should make a goal to come back home after a minimum of 10 years.

If you are an OFW who wants to come back to the Philippines in the span of 10 years in working abroad. You might try this three stages of migration process according to Rapisura.

1. The Beginning State

This is the first two years of working abroad. In these years, as OFW you should work on paying off your debts you get to be able to work abroad. For example the money you loan for your plane ticket, processing fees, and others.

2. The Medium Term

Two to three years. During this term, OFW should focus to provide the basic needs of his or her family.

3. The Long Term

Three to five years or the OFW's last year of working. The money you have earned within this year should spend for financial goals. For example, buying a house for a family or open a small business for new income.

Rapisura said, as an OFW you should not wait for 10 years to achieved your financial goal if you can make it earlier.

(Watch:Pesos And Sense Explains: Tips on Saving (OFW)

Here are some tips for OFWs who wants to return home earlier

1. Before going abroad, OFW should set a clear financial goal before leaving.

It means, before flying to other countries for work, it is vital that you and your family understand why you have to leave and what are you trying to achieve.

2. When working abroad. Stick with your goals.

"When they go there, initially they say, 'I only want a tricycle as a business,' and send my children to school.' After 5 years and they've already attained that, the goal would shift somewhere else. Maybe the tricycle is now a jeepney, and sending the children to school is finished and now they want to put up a house," Rapisura explained.

Changing goals is not necessarily a bad thing, but having no definite end-goal contributes to OFWs overstaying abroad.

3. Teach your family to be independent

Rapisura said it is important that the families of OFW understand that reaching financial goals is not the OFW’s burden alone.

The family who left behind should find another source of income and not only depend on remittances of OFWs. Family income at home should be able to cover the needs and expenses of the household.

OFWs income will fund the ultimate financial goals like building a house, opening a business or sending kids to school. By doing so, families not only get to reach their financial goals faster but are also able to maintain their lifestyle.  With this, you are helping the OFWs to achieve his goal to come home earlier as expected.

According to Rapisura, many OFWs fail to save because their families suddenly change their lifestyle, ultimately increasing expenses. This happens when the OFW provides them with more than they actually need.

(Watch:ANC On The Money: Money Management for OFWs)

4. Budgeting your money

Only one out of five OFWs has enough savings for emergency despite the claims of OFWs that they actually saved.

Rapisura explained that while OFWs do budgeting, they are just focused mainly on immediate consumption, not on investments or other financial goals.

Rapisura suggest that OFWs should follow the 5-15-20-60 budgeting rule;

• 5% of the income going to insurance premium
• 15% to savings
• 20% to investment
• 60% to expenses

We all know that budgeting is hard, but as OFWs, we need to do it so that we can spend time with our families and not to grow old in foreign countries. If OFWs can do budgeting effectively, it is not impossible to reach our financial goal faster to return home for good.

SEE MORE:

READ MORE: 5 Money Tips for OFWs + 5 Guidelines on Borrowing Money

As a Filipino that works abroad or OFW, how long would you like to work in other country and be away from your family? Do you have a goal to be able to come back in the Philippines for good, let us say, after 10 years of working?

Read more: http://www.jbsolis.com/2017/03/5-money-tips-for-ofws-5-guidelines-on-borrowing-money.html#ixzz4eTnU45Sa

READ MORE: OFWs told "borrow money in the Philippines to avoid jail abroad"

Many people think that Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) has a lot of money since they are working abroad. But the truth is some of them are also in debt while abroad and worse, sent to jail due to unpaid debt.

Read more: http://www.jbsolis.com/2017/02/ofws-told-borrow-money-in-philippines.html#ixzz4eToFuXZ6

READ MORE:15 Admirable Single Storey House Design with Plans

Perhaps everyone of us has its own dream house. For our family, we visualize a big, a medium size or a small house with a wide garden, a beautiful pool or a playground for kids. A house is a place where we can build a home and it becomes our inspiration to work hard and eventually make our dream become a reality.

Read more: http://www.jbsolis.com/2017/04/15-admirable-single-storey-house-design-with-plans.html#ixzz4efxfVjtT

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Top 10 OFW Secrets They Don't Tell About Their Lives

(Watch:Pesos And Sense Explains: Tips on Saving (OFW)

One common reason why Filipinos want to work abroad is a good salary other countries can offer compare in working in the Philippines.

Despite the homesickness, separation anxiety and loneliness, still, there are many Filipinos wants to work abroad for the betterment of his or her family back home to uplift their lives.

When we hear a word "OFW", the most description of them is "maraming pera" that is why when OFWs are coming home for vacation, many relatives and friends are asking for "pasalubong."

But don't you know that OFWs has a lot of secrets that they won't tell to their loved ones back home. Here's the top 10 and most of them are money secrets.

1. OFWs send money more than they spend.

According to one survey, many OFWs send 25-50 percent of their salary. The remaining of their monthly income goes to accommodation, food, utilities, transportation, and allowances.

There are some who are lucky enough to send up to 75 percent of their salary because they already have a free accommodation, free transportation and working with a food allowance.
(Watch: Common OFW Money Mistakes)

2. Large numbers of OFWs do not have savings.

According to The Filipino Times survey, only 13 percent of OFWs send money home for retirement savings, dollar accounts or business purposes.

3. OFWs become banks

Many believe that money is easy for OFWs to come by. That is why when there's a financial need at home, the first person in mind is always the OFW.

Many OFWs ignore their ringing phones because they know that most of the time it's just someone asking for money. Just because you work abroad, everyone seems to think you won the lotto. There are people who are asking for special favors, solicitation for baptism, birthday parties, "utang" for business, pricy pasalubong and etc.

4 Money is not endless

If an OFW is working in a country that pays a good salary. Expect a higher cost of living too plus their own financial commitment.

Because of these responsibilities many OFWs go into debt and the ready availability of credit cards which easily trap the inexperienced consumer.

Only a few OFWs admit they do not have enough money to send home. There are OFWs who borrow money or make a loan while working abroad, just to send money to their loved ones. A credit card is maxed out for "pasalubong." Their reasoning is that if their loved ones can't enjoy the rewards of their efforts, why else would they make sacrifices in their lives?

(Watch:ANC On The Money: Money Management for OFWs)

5. "We take care of you. Who will take care of us?"

“The main reason a person goes abroad for work is, of course, to provide a better life for his or her family,” said Franz Angeles, Money Talks UAE Certified Associate Financial Planner.

“However,” she stressed, “sending everything without even setting aside for retirement life and, worse, even depriving himself or herself of a reasonable amount for subsistence is not good both for the OF and his or her family.”

Angeles explained: “Say, they send everything, and their family spends it all when the OF goes back home for good (usually old and not capable of working) without any savings, he or she will be dependent on his or her family. Paano kung magkasakit? Saan sya kukuha ng pangpagamot? He or she becomes a burden to the family.”

6. Working abroad is not pretty as it seems

OFW life abroad is not what they exactly imagine.

Facebook post of OFWs such as gift, balikbayan boxes, travel and dining adventure are far away from real lives. These are just small part of their lives in other countries.

Nobody ever takes pictures of hard and menial work, long hours, or getting scolded by an employer. Nobody post or talked on social media about cramped quarters and poor living conditions.

Nobody puts in a status update that they came as a nurse or a teacher but actually work as nannies. Nobody brags about being a tenured professor in the Philippines who works as a factory worker abroad.

Nobody talks about the constant immigration struggle or the fear involved in the life of an undocumented immigrant.

OFWs try as much as they can to keep the drama away from home so that their families may not worry about their situation and can think otherwise.

7. Padalas, pasalubong and balikbayan boxes are all product of hard work and unbelievable sacrifices

OFW buys pasalubong for families but seldom buy for themselves. It does not matter if they do not have decent shoes, as long as they can buy what families is asking them for so long.

Sometimes a balikbayan box takes few months to fill in and it is not an easy task. Some OFWs took a part-time job for extra income to buy palada or palasulubong.

8. OFW hopes their payables are being paid home

While working abroad, many OFWs left payables like debts, contributions to Pag-IBIG, SSS, Philhealth and retirement savings and 18 percent of OFWs send money home for these payables.

However, there have been a lot of cases where OFWs debts and contributions are not being paid.

9. OFWs are always one step away from ruin

When OFWs are sick, they just shake it off, especially when there is no close friend or loved ones around to take good care of them. For some, going to hospitals are a waste of money especially when a worker doesn't have a health insurance. If OFWs do not have sick leave at work, they actually working through their illness because they don't want to lose the money for being absent

Each of OFWs is one serious illness or accident away from losing our livelihood or becoming disabled without any nearby family support to care for us. OFWs continue working even not feeling well with crossed fingers or "Bahala na si Batman" attitude with prayers because families depend on them back home.




10. OFWs sometimes wish they could give up all and go home

Indeed there is no place like home.

For OFWs, there's a point in their lives where they just want to drop everything and go back home. Sometimes the sacrifices, the loneliness, and the challenges are simply too much to make up for being away.

No amount of money can replace the lost time for those who left their families at home to work abroad especially those who left their children. OFWs do what they can for to provide the needs of the family and for everyone else to survive.

Know as "modern heroes" of the country and savior of the family. For OFWs, it is really hard to give it all up and to let everyone down just because they are tired, lonely and far away from home.

SEE MORE:

5 Money Tips for OFWs + 5 Guidelines on Borrowing Money

As a Filipino that works abroad or OFW, how long would you like to work in other country and be away from your family? Do you have a goal to be able to come back in the Philippines for good, let us say, after 10 years of working?

Read more: http://www.jbsolis.com/2017/03/5-money-tips-for-ofws-5-guidelines-on-borrowing-money.html#ixzz4eTnU45Sa

OFWs told "borrow money in the Philippines to avoid jail abroad"

Many people think that Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) has a lot of money since they are working abroad. But the truth is some of them are also in debt while abroad and worse, sent to jail due to unpaid debt.

Read more: http://www.jbsolis.com/2017/02/ofws-told-borrow-money-in-philippines.html#ixzz4eToFuXZ6

Pres Duterte Promised Better Lives and Working Condition for OFWs in Saudi Arabia

A better working condition for millions of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) in Saudi Arabia.

Read more: http://www.jbsolis.com/2017/04/pres-duterte-promised-better-lives-and-working-conditions-for-ofws-in-saudi-arabia.html#ixzz4eTorOwq8


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5 labor attachés summoned due to inaction in OFW issues

FIVE labor attachés are being summoned back here in the Philippines due to some reports that they are not mindful of their jobs concerning issues and situation of distressed OFWs in their area of jurisdiction.

The five officials are coming from the Middle East and Taiwan has been ordered by Department of Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre Bello III to report back in Manila office due to their inaction on OFWs issues.

He issued warning on all labor attachés especially to the five being sent home to act on OFW issues or face recall.

The following are labor attachés who were instructed to report in Manila

1. Ophelia Almenario of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO)-Abu Dhabi

2. David Des Dicang of POLO-Qatar

3. Rodolfo Gabasan of POLO-Israel

4. Nasser Mustafa of POLO Oman

5. Nasser Munder of POLO-Taichung

Bello said in a statement that the five were instructed to report so that they can answer personally on what they are doing on the critical issues of OFWs in their areas of assignment.

“I will talk to them and will order them to act on the issues concerning OFWs in their areas of jurisdiction, especially distressed and displaced OFWs. If they will not heed my order and I receive complaints, they will face recall,” he added.

The DOLE Chief stressed out that it is labor attachés to give protection to our OFWs.

Bello said that one of the issues reported to him was the violation of the bilateral agreement between the Philippines and receiving countries in the Middle East, particularly on the $400 minimum wage of household service workers, by some employers.

Bello added that if the violation is confirmed, the employer should be immediately blacklisted.

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Read More: 2 stories of OFW maltreatment and abuse in Saudi, Kuwait

Issues of maltreatment of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) especially those who are working as domestic helpers are not new.Recently, a Pinay OFW in Riyadh is asking for help after she suffered maltreatment in her employer at the same time, did not receive a for three months now.

Read more: http://www.jbsolis.com/2017/03/2-stories-of-ofw-maltreatment-and-abuse-in-saudi.html#ixzz4bUlNlMV0

Read More: 5 Money Tips for OFWs + 5 Guidelines on Borrowing Money

As a Filipino that works abroad or OFW, how long would you like to work in other country and be away from your family? Do you have a goal to be able to come back in the Philippines for good, let us say, after 10 years of working?Others may say, this is impossible because of too many spending to meet, especially with a family back home without a stable income.

Read more: http://www.jbsolis.com/2017/03/5-money-tips-for-ofws-5-guidelines-on-borrowing-money.html#ixzz4bUmWhvIG



Read More: 41 Airlines signed MOA with MIAA to abolished terminal fees

Forty-one airline companies operating in the Philippines have signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), Wednesday, March 15, 2017, to totally abolished terminal fees paid by Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs).Speaking of the event is Transportation Secretary Art Tugade who relay the message of President Rodrigo Duterte to OFWs and also to airline companies.

Read more: http://www.jbsolis.com/2017/03/emirate-airlines-exempts-ofws-from-travel-tax-terminal-fees.html#ixzz4bUn2iG00

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2 stories of OFW maltreatment and abuse in Saudi, Kuwait

Issues of maltreatment of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) especially those who are working as domestic helpers are not new.

Recently, a Pinay OFW in Riyadh is asking for help after she suffered maltreatment in her employer at the same time, did not receive a for three months now.

A Facebook user Beth Ayunan posted the video last March 1 of the Pinay OFW name Norjana Guinang Dianda working in Al Saud St, Al-Azhar District City of Gulf. She is an OFW from Malapatan, Sarangani Province.

The said OFW is pleading for help due to maltreatment, non-payment of salary and physical abuse from the father of her employer who she said punch her on her head while the wife of employer constantly beat her.

Here's another story of abuse and maltreatment of an OFW in Kuwait.

Before Ermalyn Banayado was rescued and brought into OFW shelter in POLO-OWWA in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, she suffers a horrible experience in the hand of her employer's brother.

IN TV 5's Aksyon interview to Banayado, she narrates the incident.

(WATCH: OFW sa Kuwait, muntik magahasa ng kapatid ng amo kapalit ng IPhone 7)

She said the brother of her employer was asking for a glass of water and when she went into the kitchen to get, she noticed that the man followed her.

Banayado shared that she was in shock when she found the man is already in front of her. He then offered her an iPhone 7 in exchange for sexual intercourse, but Banayado said she immediately refused to accept the offer.

Because of this, the suspect became angry and beat her and attempted to rape her. She was able to escape, ran to her room and lock it up. She said, he tried to reach out the Philippine embassy in Riyadh, but no one came for her.


Accordingly, her employer accompanies her to Philippine authorities and eventually got rescued.She is now waiting for her repatriation.


The above-mentioned stories is a proof that working abroad is not easy especially for those who work as domestic helpers in Middle East countries. We hear countless stories of maltreatment and even death of OFWs due to abuse. 

So if you are considering working abroad, you must think it carefully. Being an OFW does not just means, more money or more "pasalubong" but also it means homesickness, maltreatment, and non-payment of salaries to some.

Here are some stories of OFWs Abuse:

VIDEO: MALTREATED OFW LOOKS DISORIENTED AND AFRAID WHILE ONBOARD PLANE BOUND TO THE PHILIPPINES

OFW Got Injured While Trying to Escape Abusive Employer in Kuwait

VIDEO WATCH: HEARTBREAKING STORY OF MALTREATED OFW KASAMBAHAY IN QATAR

DOMESTIC ABUSE EXPOSED BY A FILIPINA ON SOCIAL MEDIA

INGAT! 3 Stories of OFW STRUGGLES

Because of touching and hugging his Pinay maid, Malaysian gets jail, caning

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OFWs told "borrow money in the Philippines to avoid jail abroad"

Many people think that Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) has a lot of money since they are working abroad. But the truth is some of them are also in debt while abroad and worse, sent to jail due to unpaid debt.

Because of this Labour Attache, Ofelia Domingo advised OFWs to borrow money at home to avoid jail term in other countries especially when you are in the Middle East.

According to Domingo, 15 out of 205 Filipinos that put in prison in Dubai and Ajman jails are due to non-payment of personal loans or bounced checks.

Domingo said the following are main reason of OFWs debt;

• OFW lost their job
• OFW opened a business that went bankrupt and went further into debt
• They need to send money home for family needs or for emergencies

The official reiterated that Filipinos have an alternative borrowing money in the UAE or in abroad that does not put them at risk of imprisonment due to unintentional non-payment of loans.



An example of this is the OFW Reintegration Program of OWWA and Land Bank of the Philippines for those who wants to pursue business where they can loan from P100,000 up to P2 million pesos.

For OFWs who wants a loan for a house, there's a Pag-IBIG package for OFWs who are active members.

They can also apply for a loan in Social Security System (SSS).

“If they need to take a loan, it’s good to borrow from Philippine government entities or banks because, under Philippine law, no one can be imprisoned because of debt,” Domingo said. “They can apply for the loan here and processing will be done in the Philippines.”

OFW MUST SAVE

Balanga, Bataan Bishop Ruperto Santos, chairman of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines-Episcopal Commission on Migrants and Itinerant People advice OFWs to save money and avoid debt.

SEVEN SAVING TIPS FOR OFWS 
(SOURCE:ABS-CBN)

According to Bishop Santos, OFW must know how to spend their hard earned money wisely, since working abroad is not permanent.

He said OFW should not spend their money on useless things and beware of "sale" and of using credit cards with a big interest in case you fail to pay your balance on a due date.

SEE MORE:

9 TIPS TO BECOME "DEBT-FREE"!

WARNING: IN SAUDI ARABIA, BE WARY OF BEING A DEBT GUARANTOR, YOU COULD END UP IN JAIL

ANOTHER REMINDER TO ALL OFWS: BEWARE OF "UTANG" IN ABROAD

WATCH VIDEO:PINAY DH IN HONG KONG STRANGLED IN PUBLIC DUE TO FRIEND'S DEBT

SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT LOANS, DEBTS and FILING CASES FOR NON-PAYMENT AT SMALL CLAIM CASE

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