The Philippine Overseas Labor Office – Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (POLO-OWWA) in Abu Dhabi has started to conduct online processing of documents from Filipinos who were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic through the provision of the Php 10,000 (Dh730) one-time financial assistance (DOLE-AKAP).
Qualified applicants include those who lost their jobs due to the impact of the coronavirus in the country or those who have contracted the disease. Full details of which are outlined in the advisory released below.
RELATED STORY: POLO-Dubai now accepting application for Dh730 cash assistance
Apart from this, the POLO-OWWA Abu Dhabi has also spearheaded a food assistance drive for those who are not eligible to receive the one-time financial assistance from the government.
Beneficiaries of POLO-OWWA AbuDhabi’s food assistance drive include those under a “No Work, No Pay” scheme, those under Forced Leave Without Pay, and those who are unable to comply with the necessary documentary requirements for the DOLE-AKAP program.
Here are the guidelines:
Who are eligible?
The one-time cash assistance covers regular and documented OFWs affected by the COVID-19 health crisis.
- According to 2016 Revised POEA Rules and Regulations Qualified Regular Workers must either:
– Those who possess valid passports and appropriate visas or permits to stay and work in the receiving country, and
– Those whose contracts of employment have been processed by the POEA or POLO,
- Meanwhile, the Qualified Undocumented OFWs are:
– Those who were originally regular or documented workers but for some reason or cause have lost their regular or documented status.
– Those who are not registered with the POEA or whose contracts of employment were not processed by the POEA or POLO, but have undertaken actions to regularize their status, or
– Those who are not registered with the POEA or whose contracts of employment were not processed by the POEA or POLO, but are active OWWA members at the time of availment.
- Those OFW who have experienced job displacement due to the receiving country’s imposition of lockdown or quarantine, or because of having infected by the coronavirus.
- Must not receive any financial support or assistance from receiving countries or employers.
How to Apply?
Here are the procedures on how to apply for on-site OFWs with visa in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, and Al Dhafra areas:
- Accomplished application form for special cash assistance which is downloadable at https://poloabudhabi.weebly.com/
– Submit the accomplished form with the following requirements through this link:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSexxQSmkCEJvjsbEN3i_YYCgV6lTl2mObdCEnJG0-6zvx24LQ/viewform?usp=sf_link
– Copy of valid passport with employment visa
– Proof of overseas employment (verified employment contract, OEC, valid OWWA membership, etc.)
– Proof of loss of employment on account of coronavirus outbreak (termination letter or notice of termination due to COVID-19, etc.)
– For OFWs who became undocumented through no fault of their own, proof that the OFW is involved in a case (case reference number or case endorsement stamped by POLO, among others)
- Upon the receipt of worker’s requirements, POLO shall evaluate the documents and will notify the worker through email if their application was approved or disapproved.
- POLO will release to the approved OFW the AED730.00 cash assistance through bank transfer or money remittance.
OWWA Food Assistance:
Those who do not qualify for the assistance under the DOLE-AKAP and who are OWWA members, whether active or inactive, may avail of the Food Assistance from OWWA.
The food assistance is extended to those affected by the UAE government’s measures to control the spread of COVID-19 as follows:
– Those who cannot comply with the complete documentary requirements for DOLE-AKAP;
– Those on “No Work, No Pay” scheme; and
– Those on Forced Leave Without Pay.
The Application Form for the OWWA Food Assistance is downloadable here: https://poloabudhabi.weebly.com/uploads/1/2/6/7/126708621/wap-applications-forms.pdf
Once done, submissions should be sent to the POLO-OWWA Abu Dhabi Portal for Food Assistance here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScmNnq_AUqh00oGoY3Gk7oNxo2kENPpTj4mJyinofXX8aUvwA/viewform
