UK-bound OFWs required to show negative results for Covid-19

MANILA – Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) bound for the United Kingdom particularly London are now required to present proof that they are negative from coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) before they will be allowed to enter the host country, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said on Monday.

DOLE-Information and Publication Service (IPS) director Rolly Francia said the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in UK informed the DOLE that the order is effective beginning 4 a.m. Monday (UK Time).

“Starting today 4 a.m., UK time, January 18, all those entering London are required to present a proof that they are negative from Covid, this includes OFWs. They will not be allowed to enter the UK territory if they have no negative test result to show,” he said in a virtual forum.

He said violators of the new UK quarantine restriction will be fined £10,000 (PHP650,000).

“The violation including the failure to abide by the quarantine has a fine of 10,000 pounds, according to our Labor Attaché Amy Reyes,” he added.

Francia said Covid-19 cases among OFWs in UK continue to increase with 79 additional infections, “mostly nurses.”

On Sunday, DOLE reported that the Middle East region has recorded the highest number of Covid-19 cases among OFWs at 7,844 as of January 13.

Qatar logged the single biggest number of new 14 confirmed cases, increasing the tally to 3,873 with 19 casualties.

Countries in Europe and the Americas listed 3,078 cases with 265 deaths, while there were 1,239 reported cases of OFWs infected in Asia and the Pacific.

On the other hand, the highest recovery among OFWs is in Europe and the Americas with 2,372 cases, followed by Asia at 1,165 and Middle East with only 619 reported cases.