Migrants group calls for exemption of returning OFWs, residents from COVID-19 travel ban

Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), residents and students who would like to travel back to Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan should be exempted from the travel ban imposed due to the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19), a migrants group said on Thursday.
“Migrante International reiterates its demand to the Duterte government to grant travel ban exemption to returning OFWs, residents and students,” Migrante International said in a statement.
According to the group, the travel ban affects the income of thousands of OFWs and overseas resident visa-holders. “They are at risk of getting terminated from employment,” Migrante added.
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said that stranded OFWS will receive P10,000 cash assistance.
“It is unacceptable that they should only receive a minuscule amount from OWWA for all the inconvenience and trouble that they are going through,” Migrante said.
“This is an extremely inadequate response by the Duterte government for those who are about to lose their jobs and income,” it added.
According to DOLE, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) allotted P100 billion for the cash assistance.
Migrante added that OFWs are also expecting the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to reach out to foreign authorities to facilitate visa extension for affected Filipino migrant workers and students. —Joviland Rita/LDF, GMA News

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