Dubai Duty Free receives Top Presidential Award from Philippine Government

Mr. Colm McLoughlin, Managing Director of Dubai Duty Free travelled to Manila to receive the Presidential Award of Distinction which was presented by the Philippines President, H.E. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo at the Malacañang Palace.

At another ceremony, Mr. McLoughlin received the second award, the International Employers Award of the Department of Labor and Employment, which was presented by the Labor Secretary, Patricia A. Santo Tomas.

Dubai Duty Free was one of fifteen international land-based companies to be honoured in this inaugural awards programme introduced by the Government of the Philippines. In addition to formally recognising exemplary employers of Filipino workers, both awards acknowledge Dubai Duty Free's contribution to the financial well being of its employees and also to the health, security and social position of Filipino employees whilst employed by the company.

Commenting on the significance of the two awards, Mr. Colm McLoughlin, Managing Director of Dubai Duty Free said, "We have won many awards over the past nineteen years of operation which have mainly focused on our retail and marketing success.

These awards are equally rewarding as they highlight our role as a 'good employer' and focus on the people side of our business, which is of prime importance."

Dubai Duty Free currently employs 1,000 staff of which 434 are Filipino nationals. Within the first year of operation in 1983/84, the operation recruited 50 staff from the Philippines while a total of 68 Filipino staff have been with Dubai Duty Free for more than 10 years.