DUBAI, UAE – A total of 732 Filipino workers who had overstayed in the United Arab Emirates have returned home, with the latest groups flying back on October 30 and 31. This comes as the UAE has extended its amnesty program until December 31, giving more Filipinos the chance to clear their records and start fresh.
The Philippine Consulate in Dubai confirmed that 35 Filipinos in Dubai and several more in Abu Dhabi were repatriated in partnership with the Migrant Workers Office (MWO) and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA). Since the program’s launch in September, hundreds have benefited.
The amnesty program offers two options for overstayers: they can either leave the UAE with cleared records or stay if they secure employment. Ambassador Alfonso A. Ver expressed his gratitude to UAE authorities for this opportunity and encouraged other eligible Filipinos to take advantage of it.
The Philippine government has been covering airfare and providing documentation support to help repatriates return smoothly. Special assistance has been offered to those with unique cases, and they will also receive financial aid upon arriving in Manila.
Consul General Marford M. Angeles, along with a team from the Consulate, MWO, and OWWA, supported the repatriates at Dubai International Airport to ensure their return was as smooth as possible.
