Dubai: More than 40 Filipino workers celebrated ‘Migrant Workers Day’ with the launch of a new training programme for distressed women workers.
The workers, who were mostly housemaids gathered at the Philippines Overseas Labour Office (POLO) to commemorate the day when the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act was approved, and is usually celebrated on June 7.
“Migrant workers contribute 8.5 per cent to our total GDP, so today is in recognition of their efforts and contributions to the Philippines economy,” said Giovanni E. Palec, Consul of the Philippines in Dubai.
He also announced the signing of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between POLO and training providers from six various organisations to launch the new two-year training programme for distressed female workers.
The programme will provide overseas workers with a variety of activities and courses to develop their skills and improve their career paths during their temporary stay in the UAE. These courses include basic computer learning, sewing, massage therapy and reflexology, cosmetology, and photography for business.
Maybelle Govospe, a Welfare Officer at POLO told Gulf News that the training programme aims to teach workers new skills so that they can seek better jobs and learn more about business opportunities once they are sent back to the Philippines. “At the labour office, we assist distressed workers who are mostly maids with their situations by first negotiating a way out of their contract before they are sent home,” she said.
The workers are given shelter at POLO, and will now benefit from the training programmes during their stay, she explained.
“This training will help us get more skills and learn more about different possibilities so we can start our own business back home,” said Alotta H., one of the workers at the event. She pointed out that she is one of many workers whose goals include settling down in their home country after they have learnt new skills and found a good paying job and the training programme is a mean to reaching that goal.
