The Dubai Police Force has urged the Filipino community in the emirate to help in the battle against human trafficking by reporting such cases.
On Monday at the Philippine Consulate in Dubai, First Lieutenant Rashid Nasser Ali advised a number of Filipino organizations to report any forms of human trafficking to the authorities, Khaleej Times reported.
Ali said Filipinos should not fear the police and should call them if they are in need of assistance.
“Do not hesitate to communicate with the police, they are your friends,” he said.
Many victims of human trafficking in Dubai have expired visas and fear the police as they think they will be arrested, Ali said. “They are made to think that the police will arrest them and the Immigration will deport them,” he said.
Ali told the Filipino community that if they are offered a job in the United Arab Emirates, they should be given an employment visa.
He urged Filipinos to tell their compatriots not to come and work at the UAE under a tourist visa, otherwise they might become a victim of human trafficking.