Employment opportunities await overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) displaced by the pandemic in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) following the reopening of the economy in the Middle Eastern country, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) reported.

Labor Attaché John Rio Bautista of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Dubai said these opportunities include the re-hiring of the more than 600 OFWs formerly employed by Dubai Duty Free shops.

Bautista said the management has reached out to his office to facilitate the re-employment of their previous workers who have been laid off during the onset of the health crisis.

"More than 600 Filipino workers will be coming back and their salary is competitive. Every week we process not less than 100 contracts for OFWs who will be re-hired," he explained.

Aside from opportunities in the retail sector, the labor official said employers in the health sector have also expressed interest to hire Filipino health professionals.

According to POLO Dubai, it has already verified over 8,000 job orders for household service workers (HSWs) since early April, and around 6,000 to 7,000 HSWs have already arrived in Dubai.

"The benefits for our HSWs, as instructed by President Duterte, are stated in the comprehensive employment contract. For instance, is the provision of the minimum wage amounting to 1,500 Dirhams," he added.

Bautista also welcomed the inclusion of UAE in the "green list" travel restriction implemented by the Philippines which is expected to increase the number of OFWs who want to go home in time for the Christmas season.

Currently, Bautista said the POLO processes documents of around 200 OFWs daily who will go back to the Philippines.

"On a daily basis, we process 200 contract verifications. This is aside from the Balik Manggagawa or those who will come back to the same employer," Bautista said.

"They do not need to go personally at the POLO for contract verification. They only need to visit the POEA (Philippine Overseas Employment Administration) online portal," he added.

For his part, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III lauded the assistance being provided by POLO Dubai and reminded overseas jobseekers to go through the proper process and to visit the POEA's website to verify the legitimacy of job offers.