MANILA – The Philippine government should come up with a contingency plan to assist overseas Filipino workers who may be affected by the debt crisis in Dubai, a former labor official said.

“We are of course hoping that the debt crisis will soon be over but given the size of the Filipino community in Dubai, we must be prepared for any eventuality," Susan Ople of the Blas F. Ople Policy Center said in a press statement.

Ople said the crisis could jeopardize the employment of around 250,000 Filipino workers.

She said the Ople Center received reports that many Filipinos are now deeply mired in credit card debts and other loans, which has stopped them from leaving Dubai to look for better job opportunities in other Middle East countries.

"Falling heavily into debt is a crime in Dubai and unfortunately, a good number of Filipinos are ensnared in their own personal debt traps because of the high cost of living in the Emirates," Ople said, adding that the Philippine Embassy should check into reports that several Filipinos have landed in jail due to unpaid loans.

Ople said the impact of a loan default by Dubai World, a major investment company in Dubai, would have major repercussions on its economy.

"More than 80% of Dubai's workforce is composed of foreign workers who send remittances back home. The Philippines is among the biggest source countries of foreign workers in Dubai. Unfortunately, most of these workers went there as tourists, which adds to their vulnerability during these financially difficult times," she added.

Ople, a senatorial aspirant running under the Nacionalista Party, advised jobseekers against applying for vacancies in Dubai or going there as tourist workers.

"Not at this time, because they might just find themselves heading home unless the situation normalizes and investors' confidence is restored," Ople said.

She explained that in an economic meltdown, foreign workers are usually the first to be let go unless they possess highly specialized skills or enjoy the enormous trust and confidence of their employers.

"We also foresee a dent in the remittances coming from Dubai and perhaps even Abu Dhabi as most migrant workers prefer to hold on to their money in case of any contingency arising from this financial crisis," she said.