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PHL EMBASSY IN BEIRUT, IOM, REPATRIATE NINE DISTRESSED OFWS

26 June 2015 – The Philippine Embassy in Beirut, with the support of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the cooperation of the Lebanese Immigration, successfully repatriated nine Overseas Filipino Workers-in-distress from Lebanon on June 23.

All of the nine repatriates were sheltered at the Embassy’s Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Resource Center (MWOFRC). An Embassy team composed of Welfare Officer Imelda Gatinao, Assistance-To-Nationals (ATN) Officer Julie Rose Pasco, and OWWA Administrative Assistant Joselito Sunga and one IOM staff escorted to and assisted them at the Rafik Hariri International Airport in Beirut, where they boarded their flight to Manila. 

The latest group of repatriates is scheduled to arrive in Manila on June 24 at 04:00 p.m. via Qatar Airways Flight no. QR421.

The successful repatriation of this group of Filipinos was a result of the continuing close collaboration between the Lebanese government, IOM and the Philippine Embassy, POLO and OWWA in Beirut.

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AMNESTY OFFERED TO ILLEGAL FOREIGN WORKERS IN BAHRAIN

29 June 2015 – The Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) of Bahrain has announced that a general amnesty for illegal foreign workers in Bahrain will commence on July 01.

The Amnesty period will run for six months, from July 01 until December 31, and will cover foreign workers who are overstaying or are considered runaway cases.

Illegal/undocumented foreign workers in Bahrain who face police/criminal cases or travel ban cases are not eligible under the Amnesty Program.

Under the Amnesty Program, illegal/undocumented foreign workers in Bahrain may avail of the following options:

(1)     Leave Bahrain without paying any immigration penalties/fines and with the possibility of return at any time regardless of legal status (no blacklisting); or

(2)     Legalize their employment status in Bahrain with a new employer without the consent of the previous employer, and subject to certain conditions.

The Philippine Embassy in Manama is coordinating with the LMRA on the implementation details of the Amnesty Program and has began disseminating initial information to the Filipino community in Bahrain, and will update them accordingly.

In the meantime, qualified Filipinos wishing to avail of the amnesty program are advised to be ready with copies of their passports and Central Population Registry (CPR) cards, which are necessary for purposes of immigration status check.

There are no fees involved in availing of the Amnesty Program.  Filipinos in the kingdom are warned against unscrupulous persons posing as agents or middlemen and charging fees for this purpose.

Filipinos qualified and wishing to avail of the amnesty program may come to the Philippines Embassy or call the Assistance to Nationals (ATN) at (+973) 3995-3235 or POLO at (+973) 1774-0951, for information or assistance.

They may also visit the LMRA website at www.lmra.bh or call the LMRA at (973) 1750-6055, for more information.

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DFA BRINGS HOME 67 FILIPINOS FROM LIBYA

22 June 2015 – The Philippine Embassy in Tripoli reported that 67 Filipinos from Benghazi and the eastern region of Libya were repatriated on June 18 and arrived in Manila on June 19 via separate groups on board commercial flights.

Another group of 38 Filipinos from Tobruk were repatriated by the Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs (OUMWA) and the Embassy Team in Tripoli on June 21.

The Department of Foreign Affairs estimates that there remain approximately 3,396 Filipinos in Libya.  To date, 5,118 Filipinos and their dependents had been repatriated from Libya at government’s expense.

The DFA and the Philippine Embassy Tripoli reiterate their appeal to the remaining Filipinos in Libya to heed the government’s call for them to avail of the repatriation assistance for their safe departure from that country.

Due to the prevailing security and political instability in Libya and the incidences of violence throughout that country, Alert Level 4 remains in place, which calls for mandatory evacuation of all Filipinos from that country.