The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) has issued out important announcements for Filipinos who wishes to seek employment in UAE and Cyprus.

The said countries are popular destinations of overseas Filipino workers. UAE is a multicultural society. It is a Muslim country but the rules regarding practicing other religions are more lenient than other countries in the Middle East. High salary and good working conditions continues to attract applicants.

Cyprus on the other hand greatly values the estimated 5000 Filipino workers there for its contribution in their manpower needs. 

Filipinos are known to be courageous and willing to go out of the way to be able to live comfortably. However, POEA would like to remind everyone that in deciding to work overseas, caution should at all times be a top priority. Going through the legal process of overseas employment is always advisable so as to avoid being subject to abuse and danger.

For UAE

More and more Filipinos are opting to work in UAE using visit visa. This is supposed to be the easier and cheaper way. But the immigration authorities of UAE are reportedly taking note of the growing number of Filipinos with no proper documents working there. It is for this reason that immigration official's are now implementing strict policies to foreigners who enter their territory. Random checks in various companies are being done to check if all workers have the necessary documents required to be employed. One week of imprisonment and immediate deportation are the punishments for those who will be caught.

A visit visa holder is prohibited to work in any establishment of any country on either full-time or part-time basis. Those who intend to find a means of livelihood in UAE should secure proper documents like working visa.

For Cyprus

The number of household workers who want to work in Cyprus by means of name hiring should be informed that the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) has set restrictions for Cyprus employers. As endorsed by POLO, only the following are allowed to recruit Filipino workers through name hiring; immediate members of the family of head of state; Ministers, Deputy Ministers and other senior government officials of the host country; and Senior officials of the diplomatic corps and duly recognized international organizations.

POEA and the Philippine Embassy in Cyprus also said that there are reports of Filipino runaways in Cyprus. The deployed workers choose to leave their present employer because of recruiters that offers them better compensation with a new employer. Filipinos who are tempted with these offers often end up at the St. Joseph Social Center in Nicosia, the nation's capital. Job opportunities with new employer are considered as scams as recruitment officer only wants to collect fees from OFWs.

Filipinos should realize that they are only allowed to look for a new employer once their contract with their current jobs expires. Proper documents like release papers are also usually required.