Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Dubai closes for 2 days due to COVID-19

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates —The Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Dubai (POLO) will be closed for two days from June 9 to 10, Thursday and Friday, to “undergo extensive sanitation procedures after its frontliners tested positive for COVID-19,” an announcement issued today, June 8, stated.

In an interview with GMA News Online, Labor Attaché John Rio A. Bautista did not say how many frontliners were infected but nonetheless indicated that the
situation was serious enough to warrant a temporary suspension of operations.

“(A) considerable number that could affect our operations, put our client at risk as well as other staff,” he said when asked how extensive the infection was among the frontliners.

Among the frontliners were those tasked to accommodate transactions with Overseas Filipino Workers regarding employment contract verification required to secure an overseas employment certificate (OEC) when going on vacation to the Philippines.

According to the POLO-Dubai advisory, the premises will be “thoroughly
disinfected during those two days of suspension to ensure the health and safety of our clients.”

“All clients who (have) availed of verification services are strongly encouraged and advised to get tested for COVID-19 as soon as practicable,” the advisory, signed by the labor attaché further stated.

It also advised alternative dates for clients who have secured contract verification appointments for June 9 or 10, as well as those with confirmed flights scheduled for June 10, 11, 12 and 13 but also need verification clearances required when leaving UAE.—LDF, GMA News