DOLE to repatriate 493 OFWs from Kuwait

Negotiations are ongoing for the repatriation of nearly 500 distressed overseas Filipino workers in Kuwait, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said. In a release, DOLE Sec. Rosalinda Baldoz said that 493 OFWs will be repatriated as soon as negotiations with Kuwait’s Social Affairs and Labor, Interior, and Foreign Affairs ministries are completed. The subjects of the negotiations are the provision of additional free tickets, issuance of case clearances, and facilitation of travel exit documents of the OFWs in distress. This will be the third batch of OFWs to benefit from mass repatriation arranged by the DOLE, after over 80 OFWs were repatriated last month. (See: Over 80 OFWs, kids from Kuwait repatriated Friday) "There are about 169 OFWs already scheduled for fingerprinting, while 205 OFWs including outsiders and walk-ins have undergone the procedure and are presently awaiting the result," said Philippine Labor Attaché Vivo Vidal in his report to DOLE. An additional 129 OFWs presently living at the Shuik Immigration Deportation Center are also waiting to be considered for repatriation, according to Baldoz. "These OFWs shall be repatriated the soonest possible time with the cooperation of the host country and at no expense from the Philippine Government, allowing us to save more than P8 million," Baldoz added.—Jerrie M. Abella/JV, GMA News