Filipinos told to check work papers

ABU DHABI // Immigration officials in Manila are warning Filipino workers to check all their papers personally before they leave for the Middle East, so they are not prevented from boarding their flights. "It's a two-way relationship," Ferdinand Sampol, operations chief of the Bureau of Immigration at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), said by phone from Manila. "They can't just rely on the Bureau of Immigration checking their documents. They have to check their papers as well."

Since January, more than 250 Filipino workers leaving for various destinations in the Middle East, including Dubai and Abu Dhabi, have been stopped at the Manila airport for failing to provide the proper documents, he said. Immigration officials there noted that some passengers presented employment visas that were inconsistent with the profession stated in the clearances issued by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration(POEA).

Mr Sampol said about 20 Filipino workers a day had been barred from boarding their flights since the start of the year: "Our officials uncovered a discrepancy between the approved job description and what has been written on their contracts." They are required to present proper documents to immigration officials such as a passport, a visa and clearance from the POEA. rruiz@thenational.ae