UAE approves new labor law expected to benefit OFWs


The United Arab Emirates has signed a new labor law, seen to benefit foreign household workers, including thousands of Filipinos working in the UAE.
Quoting ambassador to Abu Dhabi Constancio Vingno, GMA News reported Thursday morning that the new law seeks to promote the rights, welfare, and working conditions of foreign household workers—covering timely release of salaries, paid rest days, and other benefits, including medical insurance and leave, among others.
Some 120,000 overseas Filipino household service workers in the UAE are expected to benefit from the new law, which provides the following:
  • Payment of wages within 10 days from the day they are due;
  • One day of paid rest per week;
  • 12 hours of rest per day, including eight hours of consecutive rest;
  • Medical insurance, including 30 days medical leave per year;
  • Round-trip ticket home every 2 years; 
  • Decent accommodation - meals, clothing (if required by the employer); and
  • Possession of their personal identification papers such as passports and IDs.
Vingno said that the Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano thanked His Highness Sheikh Khalifa for this kind gesture.
Also, Vigno said there are an estimated 120,000 Filipino domestic workers of the 618,000 Filipinos working in the UAE.  —LBG, GMA News

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