An overseas Filipino worker in Saudi Arabia was fired after he posted a video of him dancing in Tiktok while wearing the uniform of the company he works for.
The OFW, who was hiding under the name “JM”, went to the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLOs) in Jeddah to seek advice regarding his plight.
According to JM, someone allegedly complained to their office about the Tiktok video he made while wearing their uniform.
The OFW added that his dancing was not obscene. He did the video when he opened the store where he works.
He was allegedly called to the office and ordered to delete the video he uploaded to Tiktok.
He was also not allowed in until he was told that he had been fired on Thursday.
“Monday po mga before 10:00 or 9:00 am ay nakaabot po agad sa office [ang Tiktok video]. Tinawagan po yung manager ko na burahin ko yung Tiktok ko na sayaw pagkatapos po pumunta po yung investigator sa store tapos hindi na ako nakapasok. Itong Thursday ay nalaman ko na terminated na ako,” he said.
OFW in Saudi Arabia fired for dancing in TikTok at work
(Monday before 10:00 or 9:00 am, it [the Tiktok video] immediately reached the office. My manager called me to delete my Tiktok dance. The investigator went to the store and I could not enter. This Thursday I found out that I was terminated.)
Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Welfare Officer James Mendiola, on the other hand, reminded OFWs, especially those in Saudi Arabia, to be careful when posting on social media.
“We would like to remind our OFWs in Saudi Arabia that although we work only during working hours we are part of their company 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” he said.
“And most of our employers if not all are very sensitive to impression or public images and that includes us. So our social media post and upload must agree or- be in line with the norms of the kingdom,” the official added.
JM’s experience was a painful lesson and he advised his fellow OFWs not to do TikTok at work so as not to regret it later.