By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora – PNA
MANILA — An official of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) bared on Tuesday that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has extended for the second time its amnesty program for undocumented workers in the Arab state.
In a message to reporters, Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Elmer Cato said the DFA has called on remaining Filipinos who have yet to avail of the program to apply before the new deadline expires on Dec. 31, 2018.
As of Dec. 5, more than 2,700 Filipino in the UAE have benefitted from the amnesty program since its launch in August.
The Philippine embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General in Dubai informed the DFA that UAE authorities are expected to launch an extensive inspection campaign against violators of its residency laws at the start of the year.
Earlier, the DFA vowed to shoulder the exit fines and airline tickets of Filipinos who will seek repatriation and avail of the program through its PHP1-billion assistance-to-nationals fund.
