Vaccination of domestic workers before deployment to UAE raised in meeting — DOLE
MANILA, Philippines — The vaccination of Filipinos before deployment as household service workers (HSWs) to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was raised during a recent meeting between representatives of the UAE and the Philippines on the resumption of HSW deployment to the Emirates, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said Wednesday.
According to Bello, the vaccination of Filipino HSWs will help assure their safety and that of other people in the UAE.
However, Bello said vaccination before deployment was only a suggestion and not a condition set by the Philippine government.
“Nabanggit lang siguro nila during the discussion na, ‘Oh magdedeploy na kami. For the protection of our workers and the protection of the people in UAE, siguro mas maganda na before they leave ay navaccinate sila, nabakunahan nila, and posible rin na mayroon kayong supply ng vaccines, baka pwede nyong iconsider na we will have our OFWs, HSWs, vaccinated before they are deployed, for the protection of the OFWs, and syempre for the protection din ng UAE,’” he said in an online media forum.
(It was just mentioned during the discussion that because we are deploying workers, for their protection and the protection of the people in UAE, maybe it would be better if they would be vaccinated first, and if you have a supply of vaccines, maybe you can consider having our OFWs or HSWs vaccinated before they are deployed.)
“It is not a condition, it is a suggestion. And mukha namang positive daw ang (It seems they have shown a positive) reaction so let’s wait for further development,” he added.
Bello was referring to the discussion between representatives from the Philippines and the UAE where both countries have agreed to resume the deployment of HSWs to the UAE effective March 31.
The deployment of Filipino HSWs to the UAE has been in suspension since 2014.
The idea of vaccinating HSWs before they can be deployed to the UAE is similar to the request made by DOLE to the government of the United Kingdom to vaccinate healthcare workers first before they can be deployed.
