At just five feet tall, 63-year-old Norhana Mohammad Omar stood proudly as she accepted the first-place award in the “Outstanding Workforce” category at the second Emirates Labour Market Award on November 14.
Her fellow Filipino, Nestor Montalbo Handog, also took first place in another category, highlighting the dedication of Filipino workers in the UAE.
The awards, organized by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (Mohre), honor exceptional practices and promote the wellbeing and quality of life for private-sector workers in the UAE. This initiative also aims to boost UAE’s labor market competitiveness and productivity.
Omar, recognized as an “Outstanding Domestic Worker,” and Handog, awarded for his work in mechanics and equipment operation, each received Dh100,000 in prize money.
For Omar, however, the real reward is the love and support from the Emirati family she has worked with for 25 years, whom she considers her own. “I’m like a second mother to the seven children I raised and now a grandmother to their kids,” she shared.
Originally from Cotabato in the Philippines, Omar, who speaks her native language and Arabic, arrived in the UAE in 1999. With a background as a nanny in several Gulf countries, she remains full of energy and gratitude for her healthy lifestyle and positive outlook.
A Hardworking Mechanic’s Dedication
Handog, 49, works as a mechanic at Wade Adams Contracting LLC, where he’s been for 18 years. “My loyalty and commitment to my job got me here,” he said. Before Dubai, he worked for Francisco Motors, a company known for its colorful jeepneys in the Philippines. Now, he handles construction equipment, earning Dh5,000 plus overtime.
Originally from Cavite, Philippines, Handog is a family man with a 20-year-old daughter in college. He plans to use his prize money for her education, with hopes she’ll someday work in Dubai.
Recognition from the UAE and the Philippines
Philippine ambassador Alfonso Ver and labour attaché Maria Teresa Olgado expressed gratitude to the UAE for recognizing Filipino workers’ contributions. The awards saw 7,700 applications, a 120% rise from the previous year, with winners honored across multiple categories, including Distinguished Workforce and Business Services Partners.
With a total prize value of Dh37 million, the Emirates Labour Market Award provides incentives, including discounts on Mohre services, cash rewards, and other benefits to winners, encouraging excellence and competitiveness in the UAE’s labor market and private sector.
