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Entry of OFWs in Lebanon and Jordan Now Allowed
Apr 2, 2009
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (PGMA) agreed to the lifting of deployment ban in two Middle Eastern counties, Lebanon and Jordan. According to the Executive Secretary, Eduardo Ermita, PGMA wants the Philippines to send overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) again to the two counties mentioned after ensuring that the safety and welfare of OFWs there are guaranteed.
PGMA assigned the task of picking the date when the ban will be lifted to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)
On the other hand, deployment ban remains in three countries in South West Asia, Iraq, Afghanistan and Nigeria considering the security of the three countries as unstable.
The President approved the recommendation of the DFA to lift the ban in Lebanon and Jordan and the continued ban to Afghanistan, Iraq and Nigeria.
Ermita further informed that the President instructed the DOLE to coordinate with the DFA to discuss the date when the lifting of the deployment ban will take effect.
He said, “The President has approved the declaration… (to) lift the total deployment ban in view of the improved security conditions in Lebanon. This will be left to DOLE to give the recommendation to the DFA na talagang total lifted na sa Lebanon as well Jordan," he said.
Conflict between the Hezbollah and Israeli forces in Lebanon makes the country unsafe for OFWs prompting the Philippine government to issue a deployment ban in July 2006. Estimates of 6,000 OFWs were sent back to the Philippines while the majority, more or less 20,000 workers chose to remain.
Rising complaints of abuse and poor working conditions by OFWs in Jordan specifically domestic helpers led to the issuance of deployment ban to Jordan in January 2008.
In a press release, Esteban B. Conejos, Jr., Foreign Undersecretary for Migrants Workers’ Affairs Esteban B. Conejos, Jr., appealed to the public to respect the continued ban in Iraq, Afghanistan and Nigeria as the main purpose for such order is to “keep away our overseas workers from harm and avoid further risks to their lives."
He confirmed that the lifting of the ban to Lebanon and Jordan had been considered due to “some progress in the conclusion of a bilateral labor cooperation agreement that will ensure the protection of the welfare of Filipino workers, specifically minimum wage, reasonable rest periods and decent working and living conditions".
According to Conejos, the signing of the bilateral cooperation agreements with Lebanon and Jordan is underway.
PGMA assigned the task of picking the date when the ban will be lifted to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)
On the other hand, deployment ban remains in three countries in South West Asia, Iraq, Afghanistan and Nigeria considering the security of the three countries as unstable.
The President approved the recommendation of the DFA to lift the ban in Lebanon and Jordan and the continued ban to Afghanistan, Iraq and Nigeria.
Ermita further informed that the President instructed the DOLE to coordinate with the DFA to discuss the date when the lifting of the deployment ban will take effect.
He said, “The President has approved the declaration… (to) lift the total deployment ban in view of the improved security conditions in Lebanon. This will be left to DOLE to give the recommendation to the DFA na talagang total lifted na sa Lebanon as well Jordan," he said.
Conflict between the Hezbollah and Israeli forces in Lebanon makes the country unsafe for OFWs prompting the Philippine government to issue a deployment ban in July 2006. Estimates of 6,000 OFWs were sent back to the Philippines while the majority, more or less 20,000 workers chose to remain.
Rising complaints of abuse and poor working conditions by OFWs in Jordan specifically domestic helpers led to the issuance of deployment ban to Jordan in January 2008.
In a press release, Esteban B. Conejos, Jr., Foreign Undersecretary for Migrants Workers’ Affairs Esteban B. Conejos, Jr., appealed to the public to respect the continued ban in Iraq, Afghanistan and Nigeria as the main purpose for such order is to “keep away our overseas workers from harm and avoid further risks to their lives."
He confirmed that the lifting of the ban to Lebanon and Jordan had been considered due to “some progress in the conclusion of a bilateral labor cooperation agreement that will ensure the protection of the welfare of Filipino workers, specifically minimum wage, reasonable rest periods and decent working and living conditions".
According to Conejos, the signing of the bilateral cooperation agreements with Lebanon and Jordan is underway.
