A total of 289 Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), who were apprehended by Kuwait authorities during a crackdown on illegal migrant workers, were already repatriated, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said.
DMW Sec. Susan “Toots” Ople said the repatriated OFWs arrived in Manila on board a chartered flight from Kuwait on Tuesday night.
The repatriation was arranged by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
She said those repatriated will be assisted through the post-repatriation process which includes services for airport assistance, psycho-social counseling, stress debriefing as well as medical referrals.
“Temporary shelter and accommodations will be provided the OFWs while transportation to their respective provinces is arranged,” said Ople.
“The National Reintegration Center for OFWs (NRCO), meanwhile, will also assist the repatriated OFWs for their reintegration needs,” she added.
The Kuwaiti authorities apprehended the OFWs over the past month as part of an ongoing crackdown in the Middle Eastern country targeting migrant workers with residency violations and absconding cases.
Most of the apprehended OFWs are longtime runaway workers.
Of the deported OFWs, three of them are pregnant, three are suffering from medical problems and five are children.