Advisory for Filipina workers in Qatar

The Federation of Filipino Workers Worldwide (FFWW) warns Filipina workers in Doha, Qatar to wear decent clothes and avoid wearing skimpy and flirty get ups when in public.

Two Filipinas were reprimanded by authorities in Doha when they were seen wearing skimpy shorts and halter tops at a mall and on the street near their accommodation.

“We remind our female compatriots that they are working in a Muslim country which is conservative on their culture. We should be discreet enough not to abuse their hospitality to us,” said Noli Perez, FFWW chairman.

Perez advised Filipinas to wear decent clothes when in public places in the city, like malls, to avoid getting provocative attention particularly among men.

The FFWW’s caution came when an advisory from the US Embassy in Qatar came out reminding its citizens living and working in Qatar against wearing revealing and “provocative” clothes.

Cristina Mariñas, concerned over the report and spokesperson of the Filipino Community Organizations Alliance (FILCOA) said that due to the incident she decided to push an advocacy campaign to all groups of the community particularly in dress code for women that would not insult the customs and traditions of Arab people.

She also said that she would coordinate with a Filipino Muslim group based at Fanar Islamic Center at the Souq Area for the continuous basic orientation on laws, rules and regulation of the Qatari government for Filipino women to be aware of.

“We should respect the culture of their country. We are here to work and earn a living and it is just proper enough not to bring here our modern westernized influence back in our country,” Mariñas said.

Dawud Turla, Filipino Muslim leader and chairman of Philippine Islamic Kibla Association in Qatar (PIKAQ) also agreed with the calls and said that the respect of women’s right and their well-being is not recognized by being modernized with alluring dresses.

“Both the Holy Quran and the Bible taught us that women should not show the shape of their bodies to avoid getting the attention in the eyes of men,” Turla said.


Source:
Chris V. Panganiban
The Peninsula