Number of runaway Filipino maids doubles
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The number of runaway maids seeking shelter at the Philippine Labour Office in Dubai has doubled in a month, from the usual rate of 30 plus to more than 60, straining the shelter's capacity.

Vicente M. Cabe, labour attache at the Philippine Consulate General, told Gulf News the reason for the increase was due "to a combination of many factors".

He said it could mean that more Filipinos were aware of their rights and know where to go when they got into trouble.

"Maybe they know that we can help send them home," he said.

Another was that many cases were not being resolved timely enough to accommodate newcomers at the shelter, he added.

Other reasons included the growing Filipino population in the UAE. Consulate figures placed the number of Filipino expatriates in the country at more than 200,000, with the figure growing at one per cent monthly.

Whatever the reason, Cabe said the Consulate General was concerned over the increasing number of runaway maids seeking help.

"It's always alarming to us whenever there is an increase," he said.

Cabe said the most common complaints the office received from the maids were unpaid wages and mistreatment.

"tabi-tabi po, bato-bato sa langit ang tamaan 'wag magagalit."