DILI, 27 june 2022 (TATOLI) – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (MoFAC) and the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) have collaborated to save the seven Timorese female migrant workers who are currently suffering in Dubai, the United Arab Emirate (UAE).
Seven Timorese female workers identified with the initials BS, ECdR, L, P, M, A, and A have suffered for more than two months since they arrived in Dubai and cried for help.
These seven Timorese female migrant workers departed for Dubai without signing any labor contract with the recruitment agency which they are currently working for.
The documents of these workers had been taken and kept by the employers since their arrival in Dubai. Meanwhile, keeping someone else’s passport is technically illegal in the UAE. These workers are not allowed to have their mobile phones with them.
“Timor-Leste has cooperated with INTERPOL in Dubai and found some proven evidence about these Timorese workers,” Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Julião da Silva told TATOLI, at his office, in Dili, today.
He said so far, Timor-Leste Authorities, especially the Timorese National Police (PNTL) have done a good job in searching and arresting those who were involved in sending these women to Dubai.
Silva said after the court resumed its deliberations on the case, then MoFAC would cooperate with the government of the UAE to repatriate these seven Timorese workers.
Last week, the Acting Prime Minister of Timor-Leste, Fidelis Manuel Leite Magalhães said the Government of Timor-Leste would find a solution for the seven Timorese female workers who are currently suffering in Dubai.
He said the government’s responsibility is to ensure the safety of the Timorese citizens overseas: “We need to ensure our citizens are protected overseas and safe from any illicit activities.”
President of the Republic, José Ramos Horta also previously expressed his concern with the situation of the Timorese workers in Dubai, pledging to talk with the government to repatriate these workers.
The seven Timorese workers work every day from 9 am to 9 pm and earn only 200 Dirham which equals US$54.
These workers are desperately crying for help and wanting to return home. However, their current employers demanded US$80.000 in compensation for the money it has spent on sending them to Dubai.
One of the workers who identified with the initial A explained that their rights were violated by the employers due to the worst condition and situations at their workplace.
“We have had enough suffering, and we want to go back home. We don’t have a labor contract and they keep our passport which means they don’t want us to leave Dubai. We keep hiding our mobile phones because if they know that we have them with us then they will take them as well,” she said.
In addition, another worker who identified with the initial ECdR recounted that they were recruited by the Timorese Recruitment Agency known as Universal Institute Professional of Management (UIPM): “They promised us lots of good things. They told us that in Dubai, we can work while studying at the same time. But what we are experiencing right now is the opposite. Imagine, we live in the worst place compared to our home country. We can’t afford to buy food and drink ourselves with the US$54 monthly salary.”
Jornalista: Hortencio Sanchez
Editór: Florencio Miranda Ximenes/Nelia Borges
Translation: Filomeno Martins
