INQUIRER Global Nation

MANILA, Philippines -- Some 94,000 irregular or undocumented Filipino workers in Europe may be affected once the European Union enacts a new immigration rule against overstaying or illegal migrants.

According to the latest Department of Foreign Affairs figures culled from reports of overseas posts, there are at least 189,023 Filipinos who are permanent residents in Europe as of June 2007, 135,493 are temporary residents, and 94,113 are undocumented.

The EU comes closer to enacting the so-called return directive for undocumented or irregular migrants after its parliament earlier this week passed it on first reading. The rule, which details the procedures for detention, deportation, and re-entry ban, is expected to be enforced 24 months after the rule's final adoption.

The rule is enforced only after the national authorities have made a decision to deport an immigrant, who will then be given from seven to 30 days to voluntarily leave Europe.

The adopted legislative text allows undocumented migrants, including children, to be held in custody between six months and 18 months. However, children will be detained only as a "last resort" and will not be subject to coercive measures.

Right now, many member-states hold irregular immigrants in custody indefinitely.

The rule will not be enforced in the United Kingdom and Ireland as they have not opted into this area of Community law. The UK allows for indefinite detention and Ireland for a maximum of eight weeks.

The overall EU migration policy, of which this return directive for irregular migrants is just one part, is still being discussed at various levels and organs of government.

In general, the EU seeks to encourage regular migration and is planning to issue a Blue Card for regular migrant workers, allowing them and their family to work and live in Europe for long periods of time.