‘Happy to be in Dubai; I’ve a better life here’ – says Ms. Happy Bulosan (not her real name), a 22 year-old Filipina resident from Dubai. She and her name – Happy – represent the general state of mind of an estimated 2 million+ Filipinos working in the Middle East. Usually, whatever the time of the day or the place, if you come across a Filipino in the UAE / Middle East, you’d definitely find yourself being charmed by his/her good sense of simple humor, colorful, decent and stylish dress sense, and overall a “Happy-go-Lucky” attitude towards life in general.In fact, whichever profession you find a Filipino Expat working in, you can be assured of one personality element vibrant in him/her: i.e. “Staying Happy”. So many times I return feeling good and contented after having spoken to / served by a Filipino – either due to a simple approach, or an ever smiling “May I help you” disposure. Even when you are upset for any kind of mishaps and reprimand a Filipino, you tend to get an honest “Sorry Sir! It will be taken care of; no worries!” Perhaps this is the sole reason why Filipinos have scored full marks in the hospitality and catering industry – where, unfortunately, many Expat Arabs have failed, despite their advantages in language and other skills vis-à-vis other Expats.
However, do the Filipinos – esp. a huge proportion of Filipino women – get their worth in compensation and treatment? I feel I’d not be the first one to say that they do not! Often they are hired for one job but the job-scope subsequently expanded, while salary remaining the same! Take the example of Happy: “When I joined here, my boss was very helpful, kind and considerate, and promised that I’d be able to leave office everyday at 6pm”, she says with a wry smile, but devoid of any complaints. “But I’m doing a lot more now, including accounts, finance, visa, supervising service technicians, office-cleaning and toilet-cleaning. Usually, I’m able to leave office by 8pm, but occasionally at 10pm. Only problem is that due to this I lose my car pick-up service.”
Or, take another case, as reported recently in Gulf News:
Many of the cases (like 2 examples above) go unnoticed and uncared for, in between the hustle and bustle of our lives in Dubai; so much so that many of us don’t even bat an eyelid when we see such a case happening in front of us! Why? Because we take each Filipino worker’s services for granted! For us they are just like necessary lubricants to keep our lives moving at every corner of Dubai – ready to be disposed off when the time comes – when they stop looking happy or are lost in their immense pain behind their otherwise non-complaining exteriors!
Can we really be just, in doing just anything for Happy or any of her fellow countrymen… the unsung heroes and service providers… ever? I feel we definitely can give it an honest start… by just returning their happiness – in simplest of ways possible! I’d be delighted to receive any ideas on this.
For comments posted on UAE Community Blog, click here.
However, do the Filipinos – esp. a huge proportion of Filipino women – get their worth in compensation and treatment? I feel I’d not be the first one to say that they do not! Often they are hired for one job but the job-scope subsequently expanded, while salary remaining the same! Take the example of Happy: “When I joined here, my boss was very helpful, kind and considerate, and promised that I’d be able to leave office everyday at 6pm”, she says with a wry smile, but devoid of any complaints. “But I’m doing a lot more now, including accounts, finance, visa, supervising service technicians, office-cleaning and toilet-cleaning. Usually, I’m able to leave office by 8pm, but occasionally at 10pm. Only problem is that due to this I lose my car pick-up service.”
Or, take another case, as reported recently in Gulf News:
Salon owners allegedly force hairdressers, who are mostly women, to work long hours daily without rest. Some of them are even forced to double as cleaners. "We have to clean the place in addition to our working for long hours every day," said Amelia, a Filipina who works in a beauty salon in Ajman. Amelia said hairdressers usually sleep inside the salon itself.Each year more than a million Filipinos leave their country to work abroad , and an increasing number of skilled Filipino workers take on unskilled work overseas – perhaps more so in the middle-east. In many countries, including the Middle East, many Filipino workers find themselves oppressed, abused, their pays and documents withheld, confiscated or hidden. Some others, esp. domestic helpers, are physically and sexually abused, or even murdered.
Many of the cases (like 2 examples above) go unnoticed and uncared for, in between the hustle and bustle of our lives in Dubai; so much so that many of us don’t even bat an eyelid when we see such a case happening in front of us! Why? Because we take each Filipino worker’s services for granted! For us they are just like necessary lubricants to keep our lives moving at every corner of Dubai – ready to be disposed off when the time comes – when they stop looking happy or are lost in their immense pain behind their otherwise non-complaining exteriors!
Can we really be just, in doing just anything for Happy or any of her fellow countrymen… the unsung heroes and service providers… ever? I feel we definitely can give it an honest start… by just returning their happiness – in simplest of ways possible! I’d be delighted to receive any ideas on this.
For comments posted on UAE Community Blog, click here.
2 comments:
Hi. Its my first time here. A Filipina nurse current living here in Al Ain.
There are lots of companies here in UAE that violates the UAE Labour Law and what makes me feel bad about it is the fact that the government is simply ignoring it.
Take a look at those working in KFC, Pizza Hut, Krispy Cremes, etc, mostly fastfood chains,the regular staff member is receiving a salary far lower than what is stipulated in their E-receipt presented in the airport before leaving the Philippines.
If we will look at the Philippine Law in hiring Filipino Overseas Workers, say for example for the household service workers or housemaids, it is clearly stated that the salary must be at least $400 but there a lots of Filipina housemaids here in UAE receiving a salary lower than or far lower than $400.If we will look at the Memorandum of Understanding between UAE and Philippines, it is clearly signed and both countries agreed on it.
Do these compatriots of mine can choose to leave? Unfortunately, a BIG no at this time.
I can say that UAE has long way to go when it comes to Standards of Labor. It is not about the Law alone, it is about the attitude...respecting their workers and treating them as workers, not as slaves. A working relationship with respect can give satisfaction, and one way of satisfying workers is to give them the appropriate salaries that they should receive and they must work only according to their job descriptions.
we have tons of them here in israel as well.. loyal people.. with enormous hearts.. taking care of our aged population with dedication..
i have nothing but the hugest respect for that nation..
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