As many expatriate families in the UAE struggle with low wages and unpaid leave in the wake of recent geopolitical tensions, one business owner has stepped in with a personal initiative aimed at providing immediate relief.Maria Paz Panag Marquez, 59, who runs a well-established pastry chain across the UAE, announced the distribution of free grocery packs to support struggling residents. talking to Khaleej TimesShe said that the idea came after noticing the increasing number of clients facing financial difficulties. “Our clients are not just Filipinos, we serve many nationalities. Recently, I have seen a lot of forced furloughs and unpaid leave among my clients.
“I wondered how I could help them, and decided to provide grocery support to at least a few people,” she said.The initiative will begin on Monday, when 300 grocery baskets will be distributed to Deira, Satwa and Sharjah branches. Each site will provide 100 packages in the first phase. The packages are worth around AED 75 each and include basic items such as rice, tinned food, eggs, coffee and other daily staples.
Maria explained that the contents were based on direct feedback from customers. “I was asking people in my clients’ WhatsApp groups what they needed most, and rice and similar food items were at the top of the list. My team at Maria Paz is organizing this, and my daughter and son-in-law in the Netherlands have stepped in to help. I hope this initiative will bring some happiness to people in these difficult times,” she said.Despite her efforts, she acknowledged the emotional impact of the situation.
She said she receives frequent messages from people looking for work. “Every day, I get messages on my phone from people saying: ‘Ma’am, I’ve been furloughed and have no salary, can you hire me part-time?’” Honestly, with the current situation, I can’t hire anyone right now. “I feel very sorry for them, and I wish I could take them all,” she said.Explaining her decision to focus on direct aid rather than employment, Maria said that long-term employment is not sustainable under current circumstances.
“I trust the people who receive these groceries. They may abuse the help, but I choose to trust them. Even if I hire someone on a Maria Paz visa and keep receiving applications, I need to think about the future. I may be able to train them, but in a few months, if the situation doesn’t improve, I may not be able to pay salaries.”
“So I felt that this initiative was the best way to help, even if in a small way,” she said.It also set aside personal funds to expand the effort. She said: “I will travel to the Philippines tomorrow for about two weeks. I had a specific budget for my vacation, but I decided to reduce my vacation expenses and contribute an additional amount of 5,000 dirhams to this initiative.”Maria’s journey reflects a steady ascent built on perseverance. She moved to the UAE in 2008 and worked as a domestic helper for 13 years with a French family before starting her job in December 2021, opening her first branch in Satwa. Today, its pastry chain operates nine outlets across the country. “Baking has always been a passion of mine, which is why I started this business,” she said.Reflecting on her decision to return the favor, she added: “The UAE has been very generous to me, and it is time for me to return this kindness to society.”
