The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has renewed its warning against Filipinos attempting to work abroad particularly in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) using a tourist visa or visit visa.
The warning comes after the DFA reunited 71 distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), who all left the country using visit visas, with their families in the Philippines.
“OFWs without the proper employment documents are more prone to abuses and exploitation abroad. The DFA has been receiving an increasing number of reports about illegal recruiters using a third or fourth country, usually where a visa is not required for Filipinos, as jump-off points,” Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Sarah Lou Y. Arriola said in a statement.
The 71 distressed OFWs were from UAE. They arrived in Manila, this morning. Abu Dhabi Consul General Marford M. Angeles accompanied the workers.
“The DFA, through the Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs, shouldered their airfare to Manila, cost of processing of exit visas, and maintenance and operating costs of government shelters in Abu Dhabi and Dubai,” the DFA said in a statement.
