OWWA Speaks on COVID Positive OFWs in Macau
OWWA – The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration said that COVID-19-infected OFWs in Macau will get $200 cash aid.
The COVID-19 pandemic is far from over anywhere in the globe according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Amid the loosing of restrictions in several nations, the WHO warned countries not to be complacent as the pandemic is not over anywhere if it is not over somewhere.
The WHO expects a spike in the COVID cases in countries in Europe this summer following the easing of restrictions. Amid the rising of the cases in several nations, some overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are among those who contracted the disease abroad.
Based on a report on ABS-CBN News, at least 76 OFWs in Macau recently tested positive for COVID-19. The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) assured assistance to Pinoys working in Macau.
According to the report, OFWs who will test positive for COVID-19 in Macau will receive $200 cash aid. Aside from it, according to Department of Migrant Workers Secretary Susan “Toots” Ople, repatriation assistance will be provided for Filipinos working in Macau who wants to go home to the Philippines.
However, currently, the DMW still does not have the budget for repatriation assistance for OFWs in Macau who wants to go home. The country is now in partial lockdown due to the increasing cases of COVID-19.
World Health reminded countries to implement measures that were already proven and tested in fighting against the spread of the virus. The international body is quite worried that another surge may be a great challenge to the stretched healthcare systems in some nations.
Many OFWs were not able to get back to their jobs when the pandemic started. Several Pinoys also decided to go home to the Philippines and leave their jobs abroad at the height of the pandemic last year.
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