A Catholic Church leader has urged undocumented overseas Filipino workers (OFW) in the UAE to avail of the amnesty program before it ends on October 31.
Balanga Bishop Ruperto Santos encouraged undocumented Filipino workers “to avail of the amnesty program to legitimize their stay in UAE,” reported Manila Bulletin.
“We appeal to our OFWs to avail of this amnesty before it ends on October 31 so as to regularize their residency status or be able to seek new employment status,” Santos said over Radio Veritas.
“It is very beneficial and a blessing for our undocumented OFWs to correct their immigration status or repatriate without penalty to our country,” said bishop, who is also the chairman of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines – Episcopal Commission on the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People.
The UAE government started offering amnesty program on August 1. It aims to help all migrant workers who have overstayed their visa to leave the country without any legal consequences or apply for a 6-month visa while hunting for a new job. The offer is deemed helpful for migrant workers as it also exempts them from fine.
