Rappler's latest stories on OFWS
Jobless OFWs in Dubai in quandary about returning home
Some have no money for plane tickets, others worry about what awaits them in the Philippines
PH misses July 4 target to bring home deceased OFWs from Saudi Arabia
Without specifying a new date, the Department of Labor and Employment says they will bring home the bodies 'early next week' or the week of July 5
Over 88,000 OFWs in UAE seek aid, but funds only for 17,000
Data from the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Dubai show that Filipino workers either lost their jobs, are on a no-work-no-pay arrangement, or have had their salaries cut
WATCH: Stranded workers occupy NAIAX road waiting for flights
These workers hope the government and the airline companies take pity on their plight and assist them in going home to their families in the provinces.
Filipinos in UAE band together to weather coronavirus pandemic
In the United Arab Emirates, Filipinos think of ways to help out fellow Filipinos affected by the coronavirus crisis
Vigan records first coronavirus case
Vigan's first COVID-19 patient is a 30-year-old OFW from Taiwan who returned to the country on April 15, and was quarantined at a designated hotel in Pasay City until May 25
PH files complaint vs employer of Saudi OFW who died without medical attention
'If what we heard and saw in the video are true, that constitutes employer neglect. Gusto natin panagutin ang employer niya sa nangyari sa kanya,' says Philippine Ambassador to Saudi Adnan Alonto
156 stranded OFWs, residents finally coming home to Lanao del Sur
The stranded individuals and overseas Filipino workers will be quarantined in Marawi City
Overseas Filipinos with coronavirus reach 5,369
Middle East and Africa have the highest number of Filipinos infected with the virus, but the most deaths are in the Americas
OFW recalls close brush with COVID-19 in shared UAE flat
Arnaldo Tumaliuan shares a flat with 8 other people in Dubai. One of them tests positive for the coronavirus.
OFWs transiting Metro Manila to be sent home within 5 days
(UPDATED) National Task Force COVID-19 overall head Secretary Delfin Lorenzana says the government doesn't want a 'repeat of the previous months' when thousands were stuck in Metro Manila
Cebu airport builds coronavirus testing lab in terminal for returning OFWs
The lab will be manned by MCIA staff who are trained by the Department of Health, and will supplement the existing labs in the area
Nearly 100,000 OFWs stranded worldwide due to virus lockdowns
Most of the stranded Filipino workers are in the Middle East, says the Department of Labor and Employment on Sunday, May 31
Filipinos abroad with coronavirus up by 2,315, bringing total to 5,184
The Department of Foreign Affairs says the spike is 'due to some late reports' from the Middle East 'where many host governments implement strict data privacy and confidentiality rules'
OFWs struggle through prolonged quarantine in gov’t 'VIP treatment'
Caught in a maze of tests and government requirements, returning overseas Filipino workers stuck in quarantine are forced to hustle just to get home
Duterte admin giving returning OFWs 'VIP treatment' – Roque
Malacañang responds to a labor group that condemned the government for its 'garbage-like treatment' of migrant Filipino workers
'Recognition for frontliners': Pinay nurse in UAE inspired by conversation with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince
Jessa Dawn Ubag says she considered her video conference with His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan as a 'recognition of the Filipino community in the UAE, along with all frontliners'
Cebu, rest of Central Visayas gear up for more OFW arrivals
The Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas says thousands of overseas Filipino workers are projected to arrive in Central Visayas in the coming week
Fearing coronavirus, OFWs in Algeria ask PH gov’t to bring them home
At least 152 Filipinos working in construction sites remain stranded in the African country
Stuck and undocumented: A transiting OFW's tough choice
Does he return to a country in disarray, or does he stay in another where he has no rights? Whatever choice he makes, the future is uncertain.
Negros Occidental, Bacolod officials ‘surprised’ by mass arrival of OFWs
In a single day, 468 overseas Filipino workers arrive in Negros Occidental and Bacolod via two sweeper flights and a sea vessel
DFA probing death of Filipino in Lebanon POLO shelter
The Department of Foreign Affairs says it is also considering 'underlying factors' as the domestic worker entered the shelter a day before her supposed suicide
Plight of stranded OFWs: Gov't still processing 8,000 certificates
The government task force is working to ensure that OFWs are released at most 5 days after going through quarantine, says Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III
462 returning OFWs to arrive in Cebu on May 22
The OFWs return to Cebu from Manila after undergoing isolation and virus tests. Meanwhile, COVID-19 cases in Cebu’s jails now exceed 600 mark.
WATCH: OFWs in prolonged quarantine because of delayed COVID-19 test results
‘Emotionally tortured na po kami dito sa kaiisip kung kailan kami makakauwi sa aming pamilya,’ says a seafarer who’s been in quarantine since April 25
Motorcycle-riding OFW in Pangasinan killed by wayward delivery truck
A ten-wheeler truck crashes and then drags Christian Tolentino to his death
Virus deaths among Filipinos in Dubai, neighboring emirates reach 43
Among the Filipino victims are 3 nurses, two engineers, a community volunteer, and a high school official
Going into agriculture? DA has P2.5B in loans for MSMEs, returning OFWs
The Department of Agriculture says the loans are zero interest, with technical assistance from the government
Coast Guard: Repatriated OFWs with coronavirus fled quarantine facilities
(2nd UPDATE) Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Commodore Armand Balilo says some repatriated overseas Filipino workers were able to escape before their test results were released. One was found and taken into custody on Sunday, May 17.
Another Filipina nurse dies of coronavirus in UAE
A Filipino mechanic known for his dedicated volunteer work also dies after contracting COVID-19 in Dubai
Families of OFWs affected by coronavirus qualified for DSWD subsidy
DSWD reiterates families of OFWs with no other source of income since January 2020 can avail of the emergency subsidy
Coronavirus death toll among Pinoys in UAE rises to 27
(UPDATED) A total of 23 Filipinos died of the coronavirus in Dubai alone
43 more OFWs arrive in Cebu, go straight to hotel quarantine
In April, a first batch of 200 OFWs came home to Cebu after testing negative for COVID-19 in Manila. A second test showed 17 of them positive.
Provinces take precautions as returning OFWs test positive for coronavirus
4 repatriated seafarers from Negros Occidental and one from Aklan are found to be infected after their home provinces got them tested, a precaution many LGUs are taking to prevent the spread of coronavirus
Duterte tells local officials: Accept OFWs returning to hometowns
‘Magkakaroon ho tayo ng problema if you resist because then as a worker of government, it falls upon my shoulders to see to it that everything is done fair,’ says President Rodrigo Duterte
[ANALYSIS] The inhumanity of PhilHealth’s new fees on overseas Filipinos
Although PhilHealth already put on hold the collection of the new premium rate – at least over the course of the pandemic – it must also revoke some of the unconscionable rules it had put in place
[EDITORIAL] Kapag tinatarget ng gobyerno ang isang OFW
Saan kumukuha ng kapal ng apog ang mga taga-POLO upang isiping isusuko na lang ng Taiwan si Linn Ordidor dahil hiniling nila ito?
After OFW rate hike draws ire, PhilHealth suspends collections
(UPDATED) The state insurer says overseas Filipinos and self-employed members can give their contributions until the end of 2020
300,000 sign online petition opposing increase in OFW PhilHealth contributions
(UPDATED) Filipino migrant groups also urge the government to enforce a moratorium on all state collections from OFWs during the coronavirus pandemic and remove punitive penalties
Rappler Talk: Ambassador Joseph Yap on Singapore OFWs hit by pandemic
Rappler talks to Philippine Ambassador Joseph Yap about the plight of Filipinos in Singapore as the city-state battles the coronavirus
Linn Ordidor, caregiver: Sorry, not sorry
She got into trouble with Philippine authorities for stating her political opinions, and would have been deported if Taiwan didn’t vouch for her. Still, the spirited OFW says she’d do it all over again for love of country.
Among first Filipino nurses in his UAE hospital, Marlon Jimenea dies of COVID-19
His wife, healthcare assistant Merry Janet, says Marlon didn’t show signs of breaking down, so they both took his condition lightly. He died in the ICU, where he worked.
Rappler Talk: Taiwan OFW Linn Ordidor on free speech and dodging deportation
Caregiver Linn Ordidor made headlines when the Philippine government pushed to have her deported from Taiwan for having criticized President Rodrigo Duterte. She tells Rappler why she thinks being outspoken is worth the risk.
DOLE: 90,000 OFWs displaced worldwide due to coronavirus lockdowns
However, some 233,000 OFWs have applied for the one-time $200 cash aid program of the Philippine government
DOLE needs additional P9.4B cash aid to cover all workers affected by crisis
The needs of private sector workers and OFWs requesting for government cash aid exceed the coronavirus response budget, the Philippine labor department says
DOLE asks Taiwan to deport OFW with Facebook posts criticizing Duterte
The Philippine government wants Taiwan to deport a Filipina caregiver for her ‘nasty and malevolent’ posts about the President
MovePH Webinar: Coronavirus impact on OFW welfare and employment
Join us on Tuesday, April 28, at 3 pm
No last goodbye for Gulf migrant workers lost to pandemic
OFWs are among the migrants who die alone in the Middle East because of the coronavirus
The overseas Filipino frontliners braving the coronavirus to serve OFWs
While we’re at home, these frontliners continuously work to support not just OFWs but also their families back home
UAE extends validity of resident, visit visas to December 31, 2020
The modified policy is intended to 'support residents and visitors and lessen the repercussions of the coronavirus'
