Oman Sets Deadline to Overstaying and Illegal OFWs

Overstaying and illegal Filipino workers in Oman must immediately return back to the Philippines before March 31, 2010 as the Sultanate of Oman released amnesty to all illegal and overstaying expatriate workers in the country.

According to Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) the Philippine embassy in Oman received a note from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Oman requesting the embassy to enlighten and educate Filipino workers about the amnesty.

The Philippine embassy was also tasked to enumerate and register the names of those who are leaving and for those availing the amnesty to submit the documentary requirements to facilitate their hassle-free repatriation, Labor secretary Marianito Roque said citing the report of Labor Attaché Romeo Young.

The Philippine Consul General, together with the Philippine Overseas labor Office (POLO) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) officials immediately met and sought the assistance various Filipino community leaders in Oman to disseminate the information about the amnesty program.

Young said that POLO-OWWA will set up a “One-Stop-Shop” center for the registration and processing of overstaying Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who would avail of the amnesty.

On the lighter note, Young said that more job opportunities await Filipinos in Oman.

According to Young, more jobs will open soon as the Ministry of Manpower of Oman announced that it has lifted the temporary ban on issuing work visas to foreign workers in 10 categories.

Young added that Omani employers have shown great interest in hiring more Filipino workers because of their good work habits, pleasing personality, and sunny disposition in life, which employers value most in the service-oriented establishments like hotels, parlors, restaurants, shopping centers, and coffee shops.

Salem Bin Nasir Al hadhrami, director general of Employment at the Ministry manpower quoted, “the ministry has allowed companies again to apply work visas for 10 professions such as shoe repair, real estate valuators, bicycle mechanic, electrician, upholstery workers, car mechanics, plumbers and painters, screen printing technicians, health club trainers, restaurants and coffee shop workers.”

However, suspension on eight other professions like laundry and barbershop workers will still continue until the end of 2010.

The labor attaché head also added that although the Ministry adopted a strategy to reduce recruitment of foreign labor, it continues to study market needs and economic development plans in the country.