Thirty-Nine Filipino workers working illegally in Bahrain have been allowed to return home. They were sent back on Sunday as part of the Philippine government’s “Mass Repatriation Programme” in co-operation with immigration authorities and the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA).

The aim was to allow distressed workers to return home after helping resolve their outstanding issues and settling their outstanding fines.

The housemaids and semi-skilled workers were part of a group of 42 expatriates being sheltered at the Filipino Workers Resource Centre (FWRC).

Philippines Ambassador Corazon Yap-Bahijin was instrumental in the project and the fines were paid by the Philippines government.

“The whole process and preparation for the mass repatriation took at least two months,” said Philippines Embassy labour attachŽ Alejandro S Santos.

“Out of the 42, only 39 managed to get clearance from the General Directorate of Nationality, Passports and Residence (GDNPR), while three others were not allowed to leave the country because they still have pending cases with the police.”

Ms Yap-Bahjin accompanied the 39 workers to the airport, who left Bahrain on a Gulf Air flight to Manila.

Mr Santos, welfare officer Norma del Rosario, the Philippine Embassy Assistance to Nationals Unit and the Philippine Overseas Labour Office (POLO-OWWA) case officers were also present.

“Most of these Overseas Filipino Workers were “undocumented” and left the Philippines through the “back door” or what is known as the “escort system,” said Mr Santos.

“This means that they were able to leave the country without proper documents and were merely “escorted” by a group of people operating illegally inside the Philippines airports.”

Mr Santos said the workers, including two men, were all aged between 30 and 50.

“They took shelter at the centre and some have stayed here for over a year and some for a few months,” he said.

“They all ran away from their sponsors for different reasons, either complaining of being overworked or mistreated.”

Philippine Embassy and POLO-OWWA officials thanked Forex Cargo, Dr Josephine B Fernandez, Khaled Al Mansoori of Y Mansoori Trading Company, Bobby Calimoso and Greg Esquivel.

The GDN reported last week that the refuge was expecting a substantial increase in residents this month, as domestic workers struggle to cope with the demands of Ramadan.

Up to 50 per cent more people are expected to enter the centre during the holy month than in an average month.

More than 30 domestic workers fled to the FWRC complaining of being overworked during Ramadan last year.

It was a similar figure in 2007, while a year later there were four admissions in the first four days of the holy month. aneeqa@gdn.com.bh