Emirates, OWWA Forge Partnership for OFW Support and Repatriation

DUBAI-BASED carrier Emirates has signed a memorandum of agreement with Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) to provide support and repatriation assistance for overseas Filipino workers (OFW). “This collaboration extends beyond travel to recognizing the dedication of Overseas Filipino Workers and offering meaningful support to them and their families. We look forward to a successful collaboration with OWWA,” Emirates Senior Vice-President for Commercial Operations Orhan Abbas, said in a media release on Thursday. Under the agreement, the two parties set up a collaboration framework for OFW support and repatriation programs, covering welfare and social protection, corporate social responsibility, travel and tourism, reintegration and livelihood, and community engagement. The framework also covers preferential fares for official OWWA travel and complementary travel support for individuals, Emirates said. “This collaboration reflects Emirates’ longstanding recognition of the contribution Filipino migrant workers make to the aviation, tourism and economic development of Dubai and the United Arab Emirates,” it said, adding that the United Arab Emirates is now the second-largest destination for Filipino workers, citing a Philippine Statistics Authority survey in 2024. Currently, Emirates offers up to 22,700 weekly seats between Manila and Dubai with 28 weekly flights. The airline also maintains a partnership with Philippine Airlines, extending its domestic connectivity to Manila, Cebu, and Clark. — Ashley Erika O. Jose