OFWs continue to sneak into Lebanon

MANILA, Philippines – Filipino workers continue to sneak into Lebanon even as negotiations for the lifting of the deployment ban there remained uncertain.

Lebanese businessman Abdul Kader Al Jadid yesterday reported that an average of 60 Filipino domestic helpers arrive daily in Lebanon using Dubai and Bangkok as entry points.

“More Filipino maids arrive through Bangkok and Dubai everyday brought in by illegal recruiters using spurious travel documents,” Al Jadid disclosed.

Filipino workers in Lebanon have now reached 46,000 since the Philippine government imposed a deployment ban three years ago, he said.

Until this time, negotiations between the Philippines and Lebanon for the lifting of the ban have been stalled.

Lebanese Honorary Consul to the Philippines, Consul-General Joseph Assad said there has been no development on the planned lifting of the ban since representatives of both governments met in July.

He said Prime Minister Saad Hariri is unable to form a new cabinet since the peaceful June 7 elections.

According to Assad, until a new labor minister is appointed the Lebanon-Philippines talks will be put in the backburner as other priorities on the labor front will have to be tackled by the new government.

It is unfortunate because thousands of skilled positions for construction, tourism, service and hospitality categories are still waiting in Lebanon for qualified OFWs, he added.

The Lebanese rejected the Philippines’ position requiring a $400 minimum salary for Filipino household workers.

Labor Secretary Marianito Roque previously reported that the deployment ban will stay until the Lebanese government could ensure the welfare of Filipino workers who will be employed there.

But Assad said the Philippine position is unacceptable to the Ministry of Immigration of Lebanon, which is in charge of migrant workers.

However, Al Jadid said the Philippine government should consider the skilled Filipino workers who are missing employment opportunities because of the ban.

He said thousands of workers are needed by construction companies, hotels, restaurants, and offices to fill up the urgent demand in time for the tourist season and expansion plans for hotels and tourist attractions. –Mayen Jaymalin (philstar.com)