DFA Tells Undocumented OFWs in Kuwait to Register Now; Sets April 12 Deadline for Repat Requests

22 March 2018 — The Department of Foreign Affairs today called on the remaining undocumented Filipinos in Kuwait who want to go home not to wait until the last minute and gave them until 12 April 2018 to register themselves for repatriation.

The Department issued the deadline after the Philippine Embassy reported a drop in the number of undocumented Filipino workers registering for repatriation after Kuwait announced a two-month extension that expires on 22 April.

“Our kababayans in Kuwait must realize that we cannot do things overnight and they should not wait until the last minute before they sign up for repatriation,” Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Sarah Lou Arriola said.

According to Undersecretary Arriola, a total of 3,668 Filipinos have been flown home since 11 February 2018 when the Philippine Embassy started repatriating undocumented workers who availed themselves of Kuwait’s amnesty program.

Undersecretary Arriola said the Department is concerned about the more than 6,000 undocumented workers who still have not signed up for repatriation and who the Embassy believe would register only during the last few days before the amnesty deadline.

Ambassador to Kuwait Renato Villa echoed the appeal, saying undocumented workers should register as soon as possible so they could be immediately he flown home.

“It takes at least 10 days to process the documents of our kababayans and get the necessary clearances from Kuwaiti authorities before we can put them on the plane to Manila,” Ambassador Villa said.

Since Kuwait announced a two-month extension to their amnesty for overstaying foreign workers, Ambassador Villa said the number of Filipinos registering themselves with the Embassy has gone down.

“Filipinos always want to do things at the last minute but in this case, we cannot be expected to handle a deluge of applications especially during the last few days of the amnesty period,” Ambassador Villa said.

“We are appealing to our kababayans to go to the Embassy as soon as possible and get themselves registered,” he said. “We want to make sure no one is left behind.” END