Philippines says almost 100,000 citizens stranded overseas
The number of Filipino workers stranded across the world swelled to almost 100,000 as of Friday after commercial flights were halted due to the pandemic, according to the labour department.
About 85% of the 98,615 citizens stuck overseas are in the Middle East, while the remainder are in Europe, the US and other Asian countries, according to a statement posted on the website of the department of labour and employment. About a fifth of the workers have unfinished contracts, or are distressed and needing repatriation in the coming weeks, the department said.
The Philippines has spent over 700 million pesos (439 million baht) repatriating, accommodating and feeding more than 30,000 citizens since the start of the global pandemic, according to the department.
