Employers assisting some overstaying Filipinos in UAE get working documents

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – Some overstaying Filipinos who availed of the government’s ongoing two-month amnesty program are being assisted by possible employers to get proper documents, according to Ambassador Alfonso Ver, head of the Philippine missions in the UAE..

“Duon sa processing center sa Al Awir, may mga companies na dun (like) cleaning agencies. ‘Pag okay na papeles (nung overstayer), they present the requirements, tatlo lang naman ‘yun: offer letter (of employment), employment contract and establishment certificate na nagsasabing legal yung company,” Ver told GMA News Online in a phone interview.

Meanwhile, the embassy and the Philippine Consulate General (PCG) recently announced that 91 Filipinos were successfully repatriated on Oct. 17, 2024.

They are the latest batch of amnesty beneficiaries assisted by the One Country Team UAE under the ongoing amnesty program. This brought the total number of repatriates to 400, the announcement stated.

Among the repatriates were minors and individuals with medical conditions, all of whom were provided with necessary consular documents and airfare assistance to facilitate their safe return to the Philippines.

“The Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi, the PCG in Dubai, the Migrant Workers Offices (MWOs) in both Abu Dhabi and Dubai, and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) worked collaboratively to ensure that the repatriates were able to complete check-in procedures smoothly and clear airport immigration without difficulty,” the joint statement read.

The repatriates will also get financial assistance as part of the Philippine government's reintegration efforts.

The amnesty, which waives all fines and penalties, gives overstayers two options: go home and come back later with a clean slate to start over or remain in the UAE provided they get a job before the program ends on Oct. 31, 2024.

There were more than 2,000 overstayers who inquired with the Philippine missions about the program during its first week of implementation in September. Ver said the number of fresh inquiries “tapered off” in the following weeks. There were also those who inquired and found out that they were not eligible due to legal issues like unsettled credit card loans, Ver said.

The ambassador said in a previous interview with GMA News Online that “majority” of those who applied for amnesty have decided to stay.

With only two weeks remaining before amnesty ends, Ver and Consul General Marford M. Angeles renewed their call to eligible Filipinos to avail of the program in light of a recent announcement by the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security, confirming that there will be no extension of the amnesty period.

“We’re expecting more will be going home. In fact, we may have two flights next week,” said Ver, explaining that many are still out there hoping for an extension as was the case back in 2018.

—VAL, GMA Integrated News