THE Overseas Workers Welfare Administration yesterday reported that the number of overseas Filipino workers returning to the country for Christmas vacation is almost back to pre-COVID-19 pandemic level even amid the threat of the Omicron variant.

OWWA Administrator Hans Cacdac said this is due to economic recovery in countries where OFWs are coming from, resulting in them having stable jobs anew.

“This December, the number of OFWs going home for Christmas vacation is not so different from pre-pandemic level since economic life has resumed abroad. I was in a conference in Dubai recently with Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, and it is almost back to normal there and our OFWs are back to work unlike in 2020 that the number of OFWs who returned for Christmas had a huge drop. Now, it is around 80,000 to 100,000 which is near pre-pandemic level,” he said.

The Philippine government has listed 15 countries under the red list or high risk so far in light of the discovery of the Omicron variant, which was first detected in South Africa.

These 15 countries include: France, Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, The Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, Italy, South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Eswatini, and Mozambique.

Returning Filipinos from these countries will not be allowed entry to the Philippines until Dec. 15 or nine days before Christmas.

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Lee Ann P. Ducusin