As the UAE General Amnesty scheme starts today, August 1, overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who will decide to come home after being granted visa amnesty for overstaying or absconding from their work in the UAE will receive financial assistance from the Philippine government, a high-ranking official told The Filipino Times.

Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) secretary Silvestre Bello III said that among the assistance to be extended to repatriated OFWs from the UAE include cash assistance worth Php20,000 under the livelihood program Balik Pinay, Balik Hanapbuhay (BPBH) program.

Repatriated OFWs and returnees, Bello said, will receive the assistance after attending the trainings organized by DOLE to help them manage their money better.

Meanwhile, Alice Visperas, OIC Director of the International Labor Affairs Bureau (ILAB) when asked by TFT about the government’s blueprint for OFW returnees and repatriates said: “Yoong mga mag-aavail ng Amnesty program sa UAE na uuwi na dito sa Pilipinas ay mabibigyan ng tulong sa pamamagitan ng “Balik Pinas, Balik Hanapbuhay Program” ng OWWA  kung saan may available na tulong na P20,000 na cash assistance. Bukod d’yan, meron din namang training for livelihood activities.”

DOLE will also provide transportation allowance to OFWs who live in far areas and provinces. Once they arrive in the country, DOLE will give them the choice to return to their respective provinces or temporarily stay in a housing facility organized by the Philippine government, free-of-charge.

Aside from financial assistance, skills trainings and seminars will be provided to OFWs. Their children will also be eligible and will be prioritized when applying for scholarships offered by the government.

“‘Yung mga anak ng OFWs pwede ring bigyan ng scholarships ng OWWA. Tapos pagdating nila dito sa Pilipinas, pwede rin silang bigyan ng airport assistance, bibigyan sila ng matitirhan ng pansamantala before they go back to their respective provinces,” Visperas said.

The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), meanwhile, has opened the OFW-Enterprise Development and Loan Program where OFWs can loan from Php100,000 to Php2-million payable in seven (7) years, with a grace period of 2 years.

Job opportunities

Job opportunities will also be extended to repatriated OFWs and returnees from UAE.

For skilled workers, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said more than 500,000 job positions will be available during the government’s ‘Build, Build, Build’ program by the end of the year.

Jobs available vacancies include construction workers, electricians, carpenters, and other jobs related to infrastructure.

Meanwhile, Bello said trainings and seminars will be provided for household service workers (HSWs) to equip them with skills that they can use to establish their own businesses.

Earlier, it was announced that the Philippine government will shoulder the required fees, as well as the one-way plane ticket for OFWs who are planning to take advantage of the amnesty period granted by the UAE from August 1 to October 31.

The amnesty program, dubbed as the “Protect Yourself by Modifying your Status” campaign, will allow overstaying expatriates, including OFWs, to leave the country without paying outstanding fees or fines or change their status while paying nominal fees.

The initiative will also cater to those who were able to enter the country illegally.

WATCH: How Filipinos with visa problems in UAE can go home without paying for exit fee, plane ticket

Mga OFWs sa UAE na may problema sa visa, maaari nang makauwi ng walang babayaran! Sagot ng gobyerno ng Pilipinas ang iyong exit fee at plane ticket. Pwede ka ring manatili, magbayad lang ng Dhs 500 para maregularize ang iyong visa. Alamin ang buong detalye sa exclusive TFT online video na ito.