DOLE's Bello confirms number of undocumented OFWs in UAE rising


Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III on Friday confirmed the rising number of undocumented OFWs in the United Arab Emirates who are being served in Philippine government's half-way house Bahay Kalinga.
In an interview with dzBB's Rowena Salvacion on "SOS:  Serbisyo on the Spot," Bello said there were 300 undocumented OFWs being served at the Bahay Kalinga during his recent visit to the UAE.
"Marami-rami talaga, kasi hindi na tayo nagde-deploy sa UAE. Kaya siguro, sumasama na lamang sila sa mga illegal recruiter. Wala silang mga papeles at illegal sila," Bello said.
Also, he said cases of undocumented OFWs in the UAE are difficult to monitor because the government has no record of them.
Most of undocumented OFWs being served at the Bahay Kalinga were able to get to the UAE using tourist visa, he said.
But the Philippine Overseas Employment Office (POLO) is doing everything it can to help OFWs in distress.
"May hatian ngayon ang Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) at ang Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) sa pagtulong sa distressed OFWs."
He said the DFA deals with problems involving undocumented OFWs, and those who were documented but got in trouble and absconded their job, and are now hiding from UAE authortities, the POEA will take care of them.
Also he pointed out that the POLO and other related government agencies will surely and swiftly come the aid of expatriates —undocumented or documented —who are in trouble abroad.
"Yan ang utos ng Pangulo, iligal man o hindi ay dapat bigyan agad ng tamang assistance ng POLO o ng embassy. Tulungan agad-agad, wala nang tanong-tanong pa. Hindi mo na itinatanong kung iligal o hindi."
Bello advised prospective OFWs to exercise caution in dealing with recruiters. —LBG, GMA News

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