Plenty of Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) based in the United Arab Emirates are expected to return home to the Philippines for the Christmas holiday season, the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) stated. POLO Dubai Labor Attaché John Rio Bautista said that as the Christmas season is approaching, many OFWs want to be home with their families.
Also Read: Directory: POLO-OWWA Offices Overseas
According to a report shared by the Philippine News Agency on November 19, 2021, Bautista shared in a digital press forum that his premise for his statement is based on the number of POLO service transactions they get in the POLO Dubai office in a day that has reached up to 200.
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Overseas Filipino Workers Going Home for Holidays Increases
As the number of people who go to their office increases, this is also the expected number of people who might travel home to the Philippines.
The Philippines has recently been added the UAE to the “Green List” of countries that can travel to the Philippines which makes it easier for OFWs to travel home as there is no more need to undergo a quarantine period.
The official noted that Filipinos go to the POLO office to verify their work contracts and process their Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) memberships, which is why they want to return home.
Demand for OFWs in the UAE Increases
Furthermore, Bautista reported that the UAE’s economy is open and active. That is why the need for Filipino workers is also high.
Aside from household service workers (HSWs), Filipinos also work in retail establishments, among other occupations in the country.
Dubai Duty Free Jobs for Filipinos
Just recently, 600 OFWs have been rehired by Dubai Duty Free after being made redundant due to the pandemic.
He claimed that the Duty Free store in Dubai is seeking out former Filipino employees who lost their jobs after the UAE was on lockdown. Every week, at least 100 contracts for our OFWs who will be returning to Dubai Duty Free are processed.
Health Care Workers on High Demand
Finally, he mentioned that companies from the UAE health industry are seeking to hire Filipino health workers once more. As there are a number of Filipino nurses, health care workers, and frontliners who are much-needed especially in this time of health crisis.
Medical professions all around the world are currently in-demand. In fact, even in its neighboring country, Oman, reported that they required about 350 nurses in the Sultanate.
This is good news that the borders are being opened between the two countries as this gives more opportunities for Filipinos to travel and work in the UAE.
It’s good to see that the borders are being opened and more opportunities for Filipinos to work in Dubai is coming their way. We hope that better times will come soon!
There are more than 800,000 OFWs based in the UAE.