More than 40 Filipinos from the UAE arrived in Manila on Friday, taking advantage of the UAE’s ongoing amnesty program, which waives penalties for overstaying and absconding for eligible individuals.
This second batch of returnees included 17 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from Dubai, three of whom were children, and 24 OFWs from Abu Dhabi. Among them were undocumented workers and individuals with medical conditions, according to the Philippine Embassy in the UAE.
The embassy further noted that the Migrant Workers Offices in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, in collaboration with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), arranged the repatriates’ travel. The assistance ensured that financial constraints did not prevent their return.
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) stated that the repatriated Filipinos would receive reintegration support and other forms of government assistance. This latest group brings the total number of repatriated OFWs under the amnesty program to 103, including five children.
The amnesty program, which began on September 1, 2024, and runs until October 31, 2024, saw over 2,000 Filipinos avail of its benefits in the first week. The first batch of 64 repatriates returned to the Philippines on September 13.