THE Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is advising Filipino workers leaving for the United Arab Emirates to check what drugs are banned and allowed in the Middle East state.
“Possession or use of any prohibited drugs, among others, is a serious offense, and is punishable by one year and one day to two years of suspension from participation in the overseas employment program,” the DMW said in a statement.
It also said the UAE government, through its international Narcotics Control Board and the Ministry of Health and Population (MOHAP), has a list of “controlled narcotics/psychotropics and controlled drugs for medical purposes that may be used as reference for travelers to UAE.”
The list can be accessed via the MOHAP mobile app which can be downloaded by both Apple and Android users. After installing the application, the DMW said, click on the “Narcotics & precursor chemicals directory” and “Drugs directory” to verify the level of restriction of a controlled drug.
Government records show there are almost a million Filipino workers in the UAE.
