DUBAI: In the Philippines, the start of the “Ber months” signals the return of singer-songwriter Jose Mari Chan’s Christmas carols to the airwaves and malls, heralding the onset of the world’s longest yuletide season.
Not in Dubai, where Labor Attaché Felicitas Bay said the “peak season” for runaway domestic workers begins, instead.
“December ang peak. Christmas season,” Bay told The Filipino Times. It is during these months leading to Christmas that household service workers buckle down to “deal with the pangs of loneliness,” Bay said.
Those who could not make it, run away and seek refuge at the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) where they stand a chance of being repatriated and, ergo, be united with their loved ones for Christmas.
Another peak season for runaways is the Ramadan month which is usually in June or July, Bay said.
The POLO recently repatriated 32 runaway overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in time for them to celebrate Eid Al Adha with their families. Plane fare was shouldered by the Assistant to Nationals (ATN) section of the Philippine Consulate General’s Office.
Data provided by Bay showed that the number of runaways have been increasing in the past years with 1,353 admitted in Calendar Year 2017 of which 1,275 were discharged; 2,643 admitted last year of which 2,292 were discharged; and 2,029 admitted in the
first half of this year of which 1,729 have been discharged.
Discharged runaways were those who have either been repatriated, endorsed to UAE Immigration due to cases of abscondment and overstaying, and eventually repatriated after fingerprinting, eye scan and issuance of outpass; or endorsed to POLO in Abu Dhabi as that office has jurisdiction over the case, Bay explained.
Those who have yet to be discharged, said the labor attaché, remain with POLO “while their cases are being resolved or their situation is being addressed,” Bay said.
These involve passport retrieval, recovery of belongings, money claims and dispute settlement, among others, said Bay.
As of Aug. 14, the number of runaways under POLO’s care was at 275.
The figure fluctuates as new runaways arrive while old ones are being discharged.
“They know that the Philippine Consulate and POLO are here to help and assist them. The presence and assistance of the Philippine government are known to the OFWs. They arrived on visit visa. When they encounter problems, they knock at our doors,” Bay said.
