Filipino migrant workers facing legal and personal difficulties in Oman received a visit this week from senior officials of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), as the government stepped up on-site assistance efforts.
Undersecretary Jainal T. Rasul Jr. and Assistant Secretary Violeta D. Illescas led the delegation on February 19, 2025, accompanied by Migrant Workers Office (MWO)–Oman Labor Attaché Alice Q. Visperas. The group went to a detention facility where several Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) are currently being held.
During the visit, the officials heard directly from the detainees about their situation and ongoing concerns. To help address immediate needs, the delegation handed out food packs and other basic necessities. Phone cards were also distributed so the workers could reestablish contact with their families in the Philippines.
Also present at the facility was MWO-Oman’s legal representative, Atty. Darwish Al Obaidani, who is overseeing the detainees’ cases. He continues to coordinate legal support to safeguard their rights and ensure that appropriate assistance is extended throughout the legal process.
From the detention center, the delegation proceeded to the Migrant Workers and Resource Center (MWRC), which serves as a temporary shelter for distressed OFWs in the host country. At the shelter, officials met with residents and offered words of reassurance as they navigate personal and employment-related challenges abroad.
The visit forms part of the DMW’s continuing engagement with Filipino workers overseas. Through its Oman office and in partnership with the Philippine Embassy in Muscat, the agency is reinforcing its support systems to address urgent welfare concerns and legal issues involving nationals in the Gulf state.
