Rappler's latest stories on overseas filipinos
OFWs in UAE scramble to update visas following new policies
'Walang tigil ang mga telepono, landline, at mobile. Daig pa namin ang call center (The phones, whether landline or mobile, just won't quit. We're busier than a call center),' says Larry Esguerra, office manager at MPQ Tourism
PH to fly back remaining deceased OFWs from Saudi Arabia on July 20
The repatriation of the bodies of overseas Filipino workers from Saudi Arabia is moved by a week
3,000 Dubai OFWs seek PH consulate's help for repatriation
Most of those seeking assistance are jobless overseas Filipino workers affected by the coronavirus pandemic
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
[OPINION] Stranded scholars: An inconvenient truth
'As I wait for our repatriation flight to the Philippines (after 7 ticket cancellations), I remain hopeful and try to remember that day I arrived as a scholar'
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
Bello says OFWs selling blood only do so for going out and drinking
'Yung mga para sa mga lakad nila gusto nilang mag-inuman ganun, gusto nila, may lakad sila, ang ginagawa nila nagbebenta na lang sila ng dugo' says Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III
OFWs in UAE seek Locsin’s help to address canceled flights
'Hindi na po namin hiningi na tulungan kami financially. Kami na po bumili ng sarili naming tickets. Ang gusto lang po namin ay makauwi sa Pilipinas'
Dubai OFW in limbo over unpaid bank loan
Failure to meet credit card obligations is among the leading problems besetting overseas Filipino workers in the United Arab Emirates
Gov't launches Overseas Filipino Bank
The digital-only bank aims to ease fund transfers for Filipinos working abroad and will soon offer secure financial products and services
DOLE: Remains of 301 Saudi Arabia OFWs home by July 4
After delay caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the bodies of hundreds of OFWs who died in Saudi Arabia are finally set to be repatriated
Bello dismisses reports of OFWs scavenging for food
The labor secretary insists the OFWs in Saudi Arabia sorted for themselves food rejected by groceries, not actual garbage
DFA warns OFW repatriation funds may run out by August
DFA Undersecretary Sarah Lou Arriola says they are allowed to repatriate only 350 passengers per chartered flight that costs P13 million up to P14 million per trip
PH gov't to bring home remains of deceased Filipinos abroad
Regardless of cause of death, remains of Filipinos who died overseas will be brought home
Returning OFWs priority as gov't studies reentry of foreign workers
The IATF may have a decision next week if they will allow the reentry of foreign workers who hold permanent and long-term visas
Over 200 Filipino workers in Saudi Arabia died of 'natural causes' – DFA
Philippine Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Adnan Alonto says limited flights largely caused delays in bringing Filipinos' remains home
PH aims to bring home bodies of deceased OFWs from Saudi Arabia this week
Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr says the Philippine government is arranging a cargo flight 'as we speak' to bring home the bodies of 282 deceased Filipino workers in Saudi Arabia
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
Saudi Arabia asks PH to bring home bodies of deceased OFWs
Of the 282 Filipino fatalities in Saudi Arabia, 50 died due to the coronavirus, says Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III
[OPINION] Studying in the U.S. in the middle of a pandemic
'COVID-19 elevated and expanded the scope of my education'
UAE opens doors, allows even foreigners to return
The new government policy aims to bring back over 200,000 people with valid UAE resident visas
FALSE: OFW positive for coronavirus raped by camel in Riyadh
The video containing the preposterous claim is manipulated from a 2012 report about an OFW raped by police in Kuwait
[OPINION] Can Balik-Probinsya, Bagong Pag-Asa help stranded Filipinos?
'Michelle Silvertino's body, which was buried in a shallow grave, was one of the many casualties, not of COVID-19, but of the pandemic that is our government'
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.
[PODCAST] Ang kahirapang dinaranas ng mga OFW sa pandemya
Saan nagkukulang ang gobyerno sa pagtulong sa mga bagong bayani?
Filipina cruise ship worker dies by suicide while awaiting repatriation
Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr says the 28-year-old Filipina died in her cabin in a cruise ship 'where she's had to stay because repatriation flights back to the Philippines have been suspended again'
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
FALSE: OFW in Saudi beheaded after testing positive for coronavirus
The video containing the claim is from a 2015 report about the beheading of an OFW convicted for murder
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
OFWs in Dubai battle coronavirus, too
Most OFWs in Dubai opt to share living quarters to save on rent. They also become more vulnerable to the spread of the coronavirus.
Fontana Chinese get coronavirus test results faster than some OFWs
Chinese workers at the resort complex are included in a list of OFWs who’ve tested negative for COVID-19, even though their swab samples were taken later than some Filipino repatriates still waiting for their results
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
Duterte orders OFWs stuck in Metro Manila to be brought home this week
(UPDATED) Some 24,000 overseas Filipino workers remain stranded in the capital region due to severe delays in the release of test results and certificates
Filipina domestic worker commits suicide in Lebanon – embassy
Her death comes days after a rights group complained about the shelter she was in
Filipinos abroad with coronavirus now at 2,523
There are 3 new deaths recorded, bringing the total number of fatalities among overseas Filipinos to 294
