UAE extends amnesty program for undocumented foreign workers

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has extended anew its amnesty program that would allow undocumented foreigners, including Filipinos, to either correct their immigration status and continue working or return home without penalties.

This developed as the Philippines government called on undocumented Filipinos to avail of the extended amnesty offer before the new deadline expires on December 31, 2018.

According to the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi, the UAE authorities are expected to launch an extensive inspection campaign against violators of its residency laws at the start of 2019.

To date, the Philippine government has repatriated more than 2,700 Filipinos in the UAE who have availed themselves of the amnesty program since it was launched in August.

Last month, the UAE government issued its first extension of the program due to technical issues involving the amnesty system, as well as the delays in the issuance of travel document and other procedures arranged by different countries’ embassies for their nationals.

The extension would mean that Filipinos may still have the option to return home without penalties, or correct their status and continue to work in that country.

For those who will avail of the amnesty, the Philippine government will shoulder the cost of their exit fines and airline tickets to Manila and to their respective provinces.

There are approximately 10,000 Filipinos in Abu Dhabi and 20,000 in Dubai who are deemed eligible under the amnesty program.