Top 5 problems of Filipino expats in the UAE

Gulf News

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

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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.

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