Bilateral Tensions and Societal Struggles: The Story of Filipino Maids in the UAE

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is renowned for its rapid economic growth, luxurious lifestyle, and multicultural environment. However, beneath the shining surface, several sources of bilateral tensions and societal struggles have arisen, particularly concerning Filipino maids and domestic workers. This blog post explores the three primary sources of these tensions and reflects on their implications.

Source of Tension #1: Runaway Maids

From the perspectives of both the Emirati authorities and expatriates in the UAE, the issue of runaway maids has become a cause of diplomatic discord and social unrest. Runaway maids create financial burdens for their employers and require the UAE government to address ongoing grievances. Although official statistics are scarce, a "shelter" for these maids, the Overseas Filipino Resource Centre of the Philippine Consulate General in Dubai, provides some insights. In 2012, the shelter received an average of one hundred house helpers per month. However, this number decreased to twenty-nine Filipinas in July 2014. The influx of runaway maids typically surges before Christmas and during Ramadan due to homesickness and intensified working conditions.

Source of Tension #2: Violation of Human Rights

Another source of discord between the UAE and the Philippines is the violation of human rights faced by domestic workers, especially female house helpers. Their passports are often confiscated, and employers exert extensive control, resulting in routine abuse. While Human Rights Watch (HRW) has documented cases, there are no official statistics due to limited resources. There is a need for valuable insights into the personal testimonies of Filipino migrants in the UAE to shed light on the challenges they face.

Source of Tension #3: Status of Household Service Workers

The third source of tension revolves around the status of household service workers. While those with legally processed visas enjoy certain protections, undocumented migrants are vulnerable to exploitation and abuse. Some are recruited at significantly lower wages and without proper contracts, leaving them in precarious situations. The Philippines has had to pay close attention to the reality of contracts and minimum wage for its citizens in the UAE.

Bilateral Arrangements:

To address these issues, the Gloria Macapagal Arroyo administration took a firm stance on migration policy and negotiated bilateral agreements with the UAE, including a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that came into effect in 2007. These agreements sought to benefit both parties by regulating labor migration and ensuring that workers' rights were protected. While these agreements were initially in force for five years, negotiations for new agreements were expected.

A bilateral agreement on combatting human trafficking was signed in September 2019, and a deal on consular co-operation was signed in April 2021 – both are important agreements that ensure mechanisms are in place to protect the rights and welfare of Filipinos in the UAE.

Changing Regional Context:

The regional context shifted significantly, with Saudi Arabia imposing restrictions on Indonesian and Filipino domestic workers. This led to changes in working conditions and wage demands for Filipinos in the UAE. The Emirati Ministry of Labor also stopped the verification of contracts, granting recruitment agencies more flexibility, but without an official deployment ban.

Multilateral Initiatives:

Since April 2007, two multilateral initiatives have expanded discussions on international migrations: the International Labor Organization's (ILO) Convention 189 on decent work for domestic workers and the Abu Dhabi Dialogue. These initiatives brought together sending countries, receiving countries, and international organizations, fostering collaboration and shared accountability in managing temporary contractual workers.

While tensions between the UAE and the Philippines primarily revolve around runaway maids, human rights abuses, and the status of household service workers, the Filipino diaspora in the UAE remains an intriguing subject for exploration. This large community, which comprises not only house helpers but also middle managers, still holds much that is not yet understood. Additionally, delving into the world of household service workers could reveal unique strategies and sociability patterns. Further research and fieldwork are required to gain a deeper understanding of these complex issues.