More than 40,000 overseas Filipino workers are stranded in Manila due to a deployment ban to several Middle East countries, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Israel, and Lebanon.
Many are staying in agency accommodation centers, returned to their provinces, or are vacationing workers unable to complete contracts due to limited flights.
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and OWWA have repatriated over 4,000 OFWs and dependents, including stranded tourists from Dubai and Jordan.
Over the weekend, 88 Filipinos from Qatar were repatriated and received financial, medical, and logistical assistance upon arrival.
Migration experts warn that deployment to the Middle East may decline further in 2026 due to the repair and rehabilitation of oil refineries, affecting demand for Filipino workers.
Source: PhilNews24 | April 6, 2026
40,000 OFWS STRANDED AFTER MIDDLE EAST DEPLOYMENT BAN
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