Introduction Of Filipina
In a heartfelt ceremony at the 2nd Emirates Labour Market Award on November 14, 2023, 63-year-old Norhana Mohammad Omar, a Filipina domestic worker, stood proudly as she was awarded Dh100,000 in recognition of her outstanding contributions to her employer family. Norhana has worked with the same Emirati family for 25 years, becoming an integral part of their household and earning this high honor in the “Outstanding Workforce for Domestic Workers” category.
Table of Contents
The Emirates Labour Market Award, organized by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE), is designed to honor individuals and companies that demonstrate exemplary practices in the workplace, enhancing quality of life for employees in the UAE and fostering competitiveness in the UAE labor market. This year’s award saw more than 7,700 applications, reflecting a 120% increase from the previous year. Filipina
Norhana’s Journey: A Second Mother to Seven Children
Norhana, originally from Cotabato, Philippines, has spent her life providing for her family back home, starting as a nanny at the age of 18 in Kuwait, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia before arriving in the UAE in 1999. She has devoted over two decades to the Emirati family that employs her, building bonds that extend beyond traditional employer-employee dynamics. “I’m the second mother to the seven children I helped raise,” she shared with Khaleej Times. Her commitment has only deepened over the years, as she is now also a beloved grandmother figure to the family’s younger generation.
Norhana’s dedication to her employers and their children has kept her motivated to remain in the UAE, even though she has not visited the Philippines since 1999. She looks forward to a vacation soon but has no plans to retire, saying, “I think I will stay with the family until I can. I don’t want to miss my children and grandchildren.” Filipina
Recognizing Hard Work and Dedication
Also recognized at the award ceremony was 49-year-old Nestor Montalbo Handog, a Filipino mechanic working in Dubai, who won Dh100,000 in the category for distinguished service in electricity, mechanics, and machinery. Handog has worked with Wade Adams Contracting LLC for 18 years, operating light construction equipment such as skid loaders and generators, and has grown adept at communicating in Hindi and Arabic.
Handog expressed deep gratitude for the recognition, noting that the prize money would go towards his daughter’s education and settling family debts. His long-term goal is to create opportunities for his family in Dubai, where his daughter hopes to build her career. Filipina
A Grateful Filipino Community
Philippine Ambassador to the UAE, Alfonso Ver, along with Labor Attaché Maria Teresa Olgado, attended the award ceremony, expressing appreciation for the UAE’s acknowledgment of Filipino contributions to the nation’s workforce. Ambassador Ver commended the UAE government and MOHRE for recognizing the hard work of Filipino expatriates, who play significant roles across the UAE’s public and private sectors.
Fostering a Thriving Labour Market
The Emirates Labour Market Award, with a total prize pool of Dh37 million, underscores the UAE’s commitment to promoting competitiveness and best practices in its labor market. Winners receive various benefits, including MOHRE service discounts, priority transaction processing, and specialized support to address workplace challenges. Filipina
This award serves as a reminder of the UAE’s dedication to worker welfare and business innovation, honoring the contributions of individuals like Norhana and Handog who embody the values of loyalty, resilience, and excellence.
