Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Alan Peter S. Cayetano, in behalf of the Philippines, expressed his appreciation to Saudi Arabia for extending the amnesty program period that would allow thousands of undocumented Filipinos in the kingdom to go home.
Cayetano said the extension will benefit more than 6,000 undocumented overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who were not able to avail the initial amnesty offer.
Previously, a total of 8,467 undocumented Filipinos availed the initial amnesty offer and were repatriated in batches by the DFA.
“We really appreciate this gesture of the Saudi government that would allow us to bring home many more of our kababayans who are still stranded there,” the foreign secretary said in a speech delivered at the 72nd United Nations General Assembly in New York on Sunday, September 24 (Manila time).
“The Philippine government would like to thank you very much for the extension of your amnesty program.”
The extension was in response to the request of the Philippines and several other countries for an extension of the amnesty program, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Sarah Lou Arriola added.
Source: Philippine News Agency (PNA)
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https://filipinotimes.net/news/2017/09/04/asean-adopts-unified-policies-for-migrant-workers-rights/
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