The Philippine labor office in Dubai has released the full statistics for the second application batch of its one-time AED 730 financial aid program, showing an 849-approval result from 1,027 total submissions — while the official overseeing the program has told The Global Filipino Magazine that Friday’s Form 4 may effectively mark the end of the current funding cycle.
Labor Attaché Atty. John Rio A. Bautista confirmed in a message to TGFM that after the May 8 window closes, the office will pause further releases pending fresh guidance and additional funding from the Department of Migrant Workers. “After May 8 we will wait for advise and funding from DMW kung kelan ulit,” he said.
Form 2 results
Of the 1,027 applications received on May 1, 849 were approved — a slightly higher rate than the 81.27% recorded in Form 1. Seventy-one were permanently disqualified, while 107 were tagged as eligible to reapply in a succeeding window.
Women accounted for 58.52% of applicants (601), with men making up the remaining 41.48% (426). Skilled and professional workers dominated at 97.76% (1,004), while domestic workers represented 2.24% (23).
Where applicants came from
Dubai-issued visas accounted for the overwhelming majority of Form 2 applicants at 89% (914). Sharjah followed at 5.74% (59), Fujairah at 2.04% (21), Ras Al Khaimah at 1.85% (19), Ajman at 0.68% (7), Abu Dhabi at 0.49% (5), and Umm Al Quwain at 0.19% (2).
What disrupted their work
Salary reduction remained the leading type of work disruption at 46.64% (479 applicants), a figure higher than the 41.61% recorded in Form 1. Unpaid leave accounted for 24.05% (247), termination for 21.42% (220), and no work-no pay arrangements for 7.89% (81).
Which industries were most affected
For the first time, Form 2 data includes an industry breakdown — a detail absent from the Form 1 statistics. Hospitality and tourism topped the list with 261 applicants or 25.41% of the total, followed by wholesale and retail trade at 16.75% (172), services at 19.67% (202), food and beverage at 13.63% (140), and construction and real estate at 8.47% (87). Education accounted for 4.19% (43), transport for 3.70% (38), health and wellness for 3.31% (34), and manufacturing for 2.73% (28). Aviation (8), oil and gas (5), domestic work (6), IT (2), and others (1) rounded out the list.
What this means for OFWs still waiting
With Forms 1 and 2 combined accounting for 1,849 processed applications out of the 3,271 slots covered by the initial DMW funding, approximately 1,422 slots remain — to be distributed across Form 3, which closed in under 30 minutes on Tuesday, May 5, and Form 4, which opens this Friday, May 8, at 8:00 A.M.
Atty. Bautista’s confirmation that no further forms are scheduled beyond May 8 under the current funding allocation means OFWs who have not yet secured a slot have at most one more guaranteed window. Whether additional funding will be released — and when — remains subject to DMW’s decision.
The Form 4 link will be posted on the MWO-Dubai Facebook page ahead of Friday’s 8:00 A.M. opening. Given the pace of previous sessions, slots are expected to fill within the hour.
