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Filipinos urged to become OWWA members

DUBAI — Filipinos who have entered Dubai on a visit visa but are able to change their visa status for employment purposes are encouraged by the Philippine Overseas Labour Office-Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (POLO-OWWA) to apply for OWWA membership.

During the monthly Filipino community meeting at the Philippine Consulate General (PCG), representatives of the POLO-OWWA said Filipinos who have managed to secure a regular job in the emirates after entering the country on visit visa need to pay only Dh100 as OWWA membership fee, for them to avail a two-year insurance coverage as overseas workers. As per the procedures observed by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) in Manila, Filipinos who have been recruited from the Philippines for jobs abroad are required to pay OWWA membership prior to their deployment. However, those who have managed to be employed while already in the UAE are "invited to voluntarily enroll in the OWWA programme for their own benefit and protection."

Addressing a group of Filipino community leaders, OWWA coordinator Rose Luntao said the two-year membership will cover life insurance, loans, scholarships, social services and family welfare assistance, as well as workers assistance and on-site services. Dubai is second home to more than 100,000 documented Filipinos. A fact-finding committee has recently been formed to collect data regarding Filipino visit visa holders in the emirate.

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