Since January 2019, more than 4,800 overseas Filipinos have been repatriated to the country from the UAE, costing the government more than P135.34 million. #distressedOFW

The repatriates at the NAIA terminal. (DFA)

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) welcomed Sunday 158 distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

“In line with President Rodrigo Duterte’s commitment to protect the welfare and well-being of Filipinos overseas, we welcome home this morning 158 OFWs, most of whom were victims of trafficking in persons,” said Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs Sarah Lou Y. Arriola.

“These workers were found to have left the country using short-term visit visas and were promised to be issued with work visa by illegal recruiters. Many of them were overworked, suffered maltreatment, and experienced contract violations by their employer,” said Consul General to Dubai Paul Raymund Cortes.

Ambassador to the UAE Hjayceelyn M. Quintana said this latest repatriation–74 from Abu Dhabi and 84 from Dubai–is a joint effort between the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General in Dubai.

The DFA reiterated its warning to Filipinos seeking employment abroad not to use tourist or visit visa to secure jobs.

OFWs without the proper employment documents are more prone to abuses and exploitation by their employers, according to DFA.

The Department has been receiving reports about illegal recruiters using a third or fourth country, usually where visa is not required for Filipinos, and some countries in the Middle East, as jump-off points for recruits.

Since January 2019, more than 4,800 overseas Filipinos have been repatriated to the country from the UAE, costing the government more than P135.34 million.

In 2018, a total of 5,842 OFW were repatriated from Dubai and 3,533 from Abu Dhabi that cost more than 175.21 million pesos worth of assistance.

The DFA shouldered the maintenance and operating costs of government shelters in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, cost of processing of exit visas, and their airfare to Manila and respective home provinces.

“The Philippine government strongly condemns the abuses being experienced by our OFWs in the hands of their recruiters or employers. DFA will continue to partner with other member agencies of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) to prevent and suppress trafficking,” Undersecretary Arriola added.

In a strong manifestation of the government’s seriousness in addressing trafficking, together with the DFA, all the 11 IACAT member agencies and four non-governmental organization representatives were present at the welcoming of the repatriates Sunday.

The IACAT is the central coordinating body that monitors and oversees the strict implementation of the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act. It is mandated to establish the necessary institutional mechanism for the protection and support of trafficked persons and ensure the timely, coordinated and effective response to cases of trafficking in persons particularly in the investigation and prosecution of trafficking persons cases.