By Gillian M. Cortez
THE United Arab Emirates (UAE) government will assist over 100,000 Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) through a three month amnesty program.
Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III said in a statement on Sunday: “I advise all the undocumented, distressed, and overstaying OFWs to avail (themselves) of the amnesty program given by the government of UAE for them to legalize their stay.”
The amnesty program “Protect Yourself via Rectifying Your Status” started this month and will last until the end of October. The program will benefit “87,706 undocumented or overstaying Filipino workers in Abu Dhabi and 14,400 in Dubai,” DoLE said.
DoLE added that OFWs who are interested in availing themselves of the program “may seek assistance from the Philippine Embassy in UAE, as well as from the Philippine Overseas Labor Offices in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.”
OFWs who seek repatriation “will receive immediate assistance from Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), including airport and cash assistance,” the department also said.
