Overstaying OFWs in UAE reminded of amnesty deadline

A Catholic Church leader is calling on undocumented overseas Filipino workers in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to take advantage of the amnesty program being offered by the Gulf state before it ends this October.

Balanga Bishop Ruperto C. Santos, chairman of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines-Episcopal Commission on the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People, encouraged undocumented Filipino workers in the UAE “to avail of the amnesty program to legitimize their stay in their host country.”

“We appeal to our OFWs to avail of this amnesty before it ends on October 31 so as to regularize their residency status or be able to seek new employment status,” Santos said over Church-run Radio Veritas.

“It is very beneficial and a blessing for our undocumented OFWs to correct their immigration status or repatriate without penalty to our country,” the bishop added.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said around 10,000 to 15,000 OFWs are illegally staying/working in the UAE.

More than 830 have been repatriated.

The amnesty program offered by the UAE government that started on Aug. 1 and will end on October 31 covers all overstaying migrant workers.

They will be allowed to leave the country without any legal repercussions or apply for a 6-month visa while looking for a new job in the UAE.

The amnesty program also exempts them from paying stiff penalties.