24 overstaying OFWs back from Oman after availing of amnesty
Twenty-four overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who availed of the Sultanate of Oman’s amnesty offer for overstaying foreigners arrived in the country last Thursday and are set to receive assistance from the government.
Citing a report from Labor Attaché Nasser Mustafa, Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said the OFWs are entitled to avail of the livelihood programs under the government's National Reintegration Center for OFWs and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration.
She said the OFWs, who left Muscat on August 20 via Oman Air WY 843, have already been briefed about these programs and services.
They were provided a package assistance, or the Assist WELL (Welfare, Employment, Legal, and Livelihood) program, upon their arrival in the country.
"POLO (Philippine Overseas Labor Office) Oman accordingly assisted the repatriates early on," Baldoz said. "The Amnesty Program Committee also gave them instructions before they left."
Oman has declared an amnesty for illegal foreign workers to regulate their presence in Oman, urging them to leave without being penalized. The amnesty has been extended until October.
Before the arrival of the 24 last week, four batches of OFWs who availed of the amnesty had already come home — 67 on May 27; 43 on June 10; 24 on June 28; and 101 after the holy month of Ramadan.
Baldoz urged all illegal OFWs in Oman to avail of the amnesty offer to avoid legal sanctions, including deportation.
Affected OFWs are encouraged to contact the POLO-Muscat hotline (+968) 9355-7931.
Notices and a guide on how to avail of the program, meanwhile, have been posted in the Philippine Embassy in Muscat website and its Facebook page. —KBK, GMA News
Citing a report from Labor Attaché Nasser Mustafa, Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said the OFWs are entitled to avail of the livelihood programs under the government's National Reintegration Center for OFWs and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration.
She said the OFWs, who left Muscat on August 20 via Oman Air WY 843, have already been briefed about these programs and services.
They were provided a package assistance, or the Assist WELL (Welfare, Employment, Legal, and Livelihood) program, upon their arrival in the country.
"POLO (Philippine Overseas Labor Office) Oman accordingly assisted the repatriates early on," Baldoz said. "The Amnesty Program Committee also gave them instructions before they left."
Oman has declared an amnesty for illegal foreign workers to regulate their presence in Oman, urging them to leave without being penalized. The amnesty has been extended until October.
Before the arrival of the 24 last week, four batches of OFWs who availed of the amnesty had already come home — 67 on May 27; 43 on June 10; 24 on June 28; and 101 after the holy month of Ramadan.
Baldoz urged all illegal OFWs in Oman to avail of the amnesty offer to avoid legal sanctions, including deportation.
Affected OFWs are encouraged to contact the POLO-Muscat hotline (+968) 9355-7931.
Notices and a guide on how to avail of the program, meanwhile, have been posted in the Philippine Embassy in Muscat website and its Facebook page. —KBK, GMA News
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