DUBAI: The Philippine Consulate in Dubai reminded overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who availed of the amnesty program and wish to return to the UAE to follow proper procedures in working here next time to avoid residency or visa dilemma.
In a press briefing, Consul General Paul Raymund Cortes advised OFW amnesty grantees to only deal with authorized recruitment agencies by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), reported Gulf Today.
“Many of the amnesty seekers were tourists. If Filipinos want to work abroad, they must go through the proper channels,” Cortes said.
“They must go through the POEA procedures (to avoid problems and if ever they get into issues, there is the paper trail),” he added.
Under the amnesty program, those who will choose to return home will not be asked to pay outstanding fine for overstaying or having absconding cases and will not be banned from returning to the UAE.
Financial assistance
Upon arrival in the Philippines, they will receive financial and logistic assistance from the government.
Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) secretary Silvestre Bello III told The Filipino Times 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.
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.
My friend and I was so disappointed on some staff that is working inside dxb consulate. Upon entering the gate we ask the guard where we can go to have a refund for the payment of our document which we paid for 200+ aed, the guard laughed at us which is very insulting in our part. Then we proceed to the amnesty room. We ask the pic (person-in-charge) staff in our case regarding the refund. She ask me where is my receipt, i said i dont have one, the immigration in RAK take all my receipts and gave me my exit pass dox. Then she said we cant refund without the receipt, so i say well its okay because it was my mistake. I just ignore it. So i ask about the air ticket, they said some of the amnesty seekers will go home on the 25th. But i told them i have to stay until 19th only. What they told me is, “ikaw nalang magbook mukha ka nmang mayaman e”. (You can just book by yourself anyway you look like rich) i was so irritated and i just go away. I understand what there going through with all those supports to our kababayans with absconding cases, overstayers and those with children that have no visa for a long time. But they have to sensitive with our feelings also. I have all the day going to dxb consulate to RAK immigration then again consulate. Then this happens. It is really sickening…