About 10,000 Filipino workers in Kuwait are expected to be repatriated as they have overstayed their work permits.
Sarah Arriola, Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs, said the overseas workers qualified for repatriation, Philippine Daily Inquirer reported.
Arriola said the Philippine government would shoulder the cost of the workers’ airfares and penalties for overstaying their visas.
Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific will help the government bring back the Filipino workers by providing specials flights from Kuwait to Manila, CNN Philippines reported.
Both airlines said they would provide Airbus A330 aircraft for the Filipinos in Kuwait. Cebu Pacific can take 436 passengers in each plane, while Philippine Airlines can carry 363 passengers in each flight.
There are more than 250,000 Filipinos working in Kuwait, mostly as domestic helpers.
Fears have been raised about their well-being after the death of at least seven Filipinos in recent times, as well as the high rate of abuse and sexual harassment that maids have complained about in the Gulf state.
Hundreds of workers have reportedly flown home in recent days and ties between the two nations have been strained by recent reports of deaths and assaults.
Read: Philippines issues total ban on sending workers to Kuwait
Correct
Reading all the horrible news and the maltreatment of Filipino domestic helpers in the middle east countries would really bring more awareness to those who wish to work overseas to consider all positive avenues before leaving. I know it is difficult to earn the amount that you are earning overseas compared to what you are receiving back home, but if your life is at risk, have faith that God will provide a way for you to be able to augment your income. The government is really quick to respond to the immediate needs of these workers, more power and may you bless the leaders of our country to grant them wisdom, Lord! I am a an overseas worker as well, but working as middle school teacher in a US territory, ( Christian school) Saipan, USA. It is my prayer that God will open the flood gates of heaven for a safer work environment to my counrymen! God is the ultimate source of our strength and He provides everything beyond what we ask for!
Philippines has a great leader that get’s look’s after his fellow filipino’s.A good job by Cebu airlines and PAL also.