While this is good, the Gulf states which exploit cheap Asian labor on a regular basis have, in turn, threatened Filipinos and their government with labor and visa restrictions.
http://www.lookingglassnews.org/viewstory.php?storyid=2075
Besides many maids and other Filipinos have to work 7 days a week and suffer a lot working in Kuwait and other Gulf States.
For example, in 2007, there was originally a new GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) call to restrict Filipino labor.
The reason given by the GCC in 2007 for such restrictions targeting Filipino laborer was obviously a backlash response to Filipinos attempting to get fair-pay for good labor in the UAE and in other neighboring lands: “The GCC may ban Filipinos from coming to the Gulf to work due to regulations passed by the Southeast Asian country’s government aimed at improving the standard of living for its citizens working in the region.”
Other Filipinos serve on ships around the globe and have been among those nationals kidnapped by Somali Pirates in 2008.
http://www.yehey.com/news/Article.aspx?id=216336
My friend Pong is one of the thousands of Filipinos in Kuwait who take jobs subcontracted to the large military base south of the Kuwait International Airport.
NOTE: Officially, the Philippines forbids (as stated in its passports) Filipinos taking jobs in Iraq during the current occupation, but this does not stop unscrupulous recruiters in, around, and working out of U.S. military bases from recruiting Filipinos and other nationals from working as subcontractors in Iraq.
Pong is on call 7 days a week and has severe restrictions on his ability to leave Kuwait to visit his family.
So, the current take-over of the Suvarnabhumi Airport is not only ruining the economy, Christmas, New Years, and Hajj for millions of Southeast Asians, but it is keeping hundreds of thousands from their families--before they are forced to return to their jobs in Kuwait in a few weeks.
Pong has already lost a good portion of his holiday. (Some Southeast Asian workers in Kuwait only get holidays every two or more years.)
PHILIPPINES ECONOMY AND “PONG” GETTING STRANDED
Since the Siege of Bangkok’s two airports began one-week ago over 100,000 people have been stranded in Thailand alone.
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