Filipino migrants in the Middle East conduct hybrid training on upholding migrant rights

Migrante Middle East organized a hybrid training on migrant rights on 27 August 2025. The event took place physically in Dubai and was attended in person by members of Migrante and Gabriela who are based in the United Arab Emirates. Participants from Saudi Arabia and Israel joined virtually, as did representatives from other Filipino organizations in the region such as FEFAA (Jordan) and MWAB (Bahrain).

The training opened with an “Orientation on Migrant Rights and Welfare,” providing a platform for Filipino workers across the Middle East to exchange experiences. It featured a discussion on the global situation of Filipino migrant workers, with a particular focus on challenges faced in the Middle East. A representative of Gabriela Middle East facilitated a sharing on the Rights and Welfare Assistance Program (RWAP) which organizations have in place to assist migrants in distress.

The session also included a brief overview of the current political situation in the Philippines where a resurgence of protests has been occurring for the past several months amid extensive exposes of widespread government corruption, particularly in public work projects such as flood-control programs.

Participants described the event as empowering, noting that it became an avenue to share their own stories and listen to other migrant workers in similar circumstances. The most frequently cited concerns were the: 1) lack of permanent residency, 2) unlivable accommodations, 3) abuse and mistreatment by employers, 4) wage theft threatening their well-being, and 5) host-country laws that limit migrant rights. The RWAP discussion opened possibilities for collaborations among different migrant groups to uphold rights and welfare, taking into account host-country statutes and the responsibilities of the Philippine government as a sending country.

Individuals and organizations represented in the hybrid training stressed that migrant workers across the Middle East need to have access to this type of platform and sessions that acquaint them with their rights and welfare. They also highlighted the importance of staying updated on political and economic developments back in the Philippines.