MANILA -- A total of 158 Filipino migrant workers repatriated from the United Arab Emirates arrived here on Sunday, the Department of Foreign Affairs said.

The migrant workers were mostly victims of trafficking, said Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Sarah Arriola. Seventy-four of the repatriates are from Abu Dhabi, while 84 are from Dubai.

“The Philippine government strongly condemns the abuses being experienced by our OFWs in the hands of their recruiters or employers," Arriola said.

DFA Repatriates 158 OFWs from UAE, Warns vs Trafficking: https://t.co/ezmJYzlMCm

The DFA welcomed today the arrival of 158 distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), 74 from Abu Dhabi and 84 from Dubai.#AssistanceToNationals#DFAinACTION pic.twitter.com/59ImCPVAvY

— DFA Philippines (@DFAPHL) October 6, 2019

Consul General to Dubai Paul Raymund Cortes said many of the repatriates left the Philippines using short-term visit visas and were promised to be issued with work visa by illegal recruiters.

"Many of them were overworked, suffered maltreatment, and experienced contract violations by their employer,” he said.

Since January 2019, more than 4,800 Filipino migrant workers have been repatriated to the country from the UAE, the DFA said.