Legal Filipino workers bound to United Arab Emirates (UAE) need not be alarmed. There is no truth to the report that the Philippines wants to implement a partial or total ban on the deployment of overseas Filipino workers to the United Arab Emirates, as confirmed by former Labor and Employment Secretary Patricia A. Sto. Tomas. She further explains that the UAE is only set to impose a new law that aims to control the trafficking of persons and children for profit and other illegal activities in this country.

The proposed law will in no way be a hindrance to aspiring OFWs and even to the 81,707 documented OFWs in UAE. On the contrary, the law gears to the interest of OFWS as it provides protection from abuse and illegal recruitment. It will also serve as a Philippine ally in its goal to combat human trafficking and guarantee the welfare of all OFWS.

Human trafficking is a global problem that affects millions of individuals. It is a reality that ruins lives and destroys dreams. The UAE government must be applauded for their efforts to eradicate human trafficking.   

The United Nations Office on Drug and Crime (UNDOC) defines trafficking in persons as the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons by means of threat, coercion, abduction, and fraud or deception for sexual exploitation, forced labor or services, slavery, servitude, and the removal of organs. It also involves the giving or receiving of payments to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person.

The UAE and the Philippines remains to have good labor and economic relationships as the OFWs continue to play a valuable part in the labor sector of UAE. However the rise of OFWs who enter UAE without the proper and legal documents raises the concern of the UAE authorities. The country is also being used as an entry point of human smugglers to other destinations like Iraq.

The POEA already issued an advisory to warn aspiring OFWs about working in UAE or any other country using tourist visa. An undocumented OFW faces the risk of being abused and manipulated by foreign employers. Leaving the country armed with all the legal documents and going through the right process must always be a priority.

The new law is expected to be implemented soon as The Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Abu Dhabi reported that the draft federal law against human trafficking has already been referred to the Ministry of Justice for revision and approval.