PHILIPPINE NEWS SERVICE — Another batch of 30 migrant Filipino workers who availed of the amnesty program by Kuwait arrived yesterday at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
The female domestics arrived at 4:25 p.m. on board Kuwait Airlines flight KU-411 and were met by officials of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration.
OWWA chief Ramonito Roque said 77 have been repatriated this week alone with 50 to 60 more due anytime.
Last Sunday, 47 undocumented workers arrived, recounting their experiences after being promised high salaries by illegal recruiters to serve as maids in Kuwaiti households.
The placement fee, they said, was P30,000 and that the recruiting agents escorted them at the airport.
Roque said the government coordinated with non-government organizations to shoulder the plane fare of returnees, most of them staying at the Philippine consulate after escaping their employers.
Not a few of the workers told reporters that their passports were confiscated by their employers upon their arrival at their job site.
Upon learning of facilitation of the departure of the workers, Immigration Commissioner Marcelo Libanan said he would order an investigation and consider a major reshuffle of his unit at the Naia.
He warned that any Immigration staff found to be involved in any illegal activity would face administrative and criminal charges.