ABU DHABI/DUBAI
UAE, Philippines to streamline recruitment

The UAE Ministry of Labour and the Philippine Department of Labour and Employment will streamline procedures for the recruitment of Filipino workers in the emirates, Khaleej Times reports.
According to ministry officials in Abu Dhabi and the Philippine Consulate in Dubai, the minister, Dr Ali bin Abdullah Al Kaabi, will sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Philippine Labour and Employment Secretary Arturo Brion in Manila.
Mohammed Al Zaabi, director of international relations department at the ministry, said Dr Al Kaabi’s visit would focus on coordinating efforts for a more systematic method of bringing in Filipino workers.
The MoU will include the creation of an electronic connection system both countries will share to enforce the workers’ contracts. Under the agreement, ministry will set up satellite offices in various cities in the Philippines to protect labourers from exploitation by employers, he said.
Philippine Consul-General Antonio S. Curameng said the MoU would also consider visa issuance, working conditions and rights of all skilled and professional workers. Household workers are not covered as their visas are issued by the Ministry of Immigration.
Curameng said the agreement would benefit Filipinos seeking to work in the emirates. “Through this, we can be assured that the Filipino workers’ rights will be protected. The employment processes will be more orderly and no worker can be deployed without vital documents. This will minimise problems related to manpower exploitation.”
Around 500-700 Filipino hopefuls arrive in the UAE every day, according to a survey.
Last update on: 11-4-2007