Government may resume deployment of OFWs to Lebanon next year

MANILA, Philippines – After a three-year deployment ban, the government may resume the sending of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to Lebanon next year.

Labor Secretary Marianito Roque said the government is now considering lifting the ban on deployment of Filipino workers to Lebanon.

“There is a proposal from our Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) to resume deployment of OFWs in Lebanon so we are looking into it,” Roque said.

Roque, however, noted that if the government resumes deployment to Lebanon, it would only allow hotel and restaurant workers.

The labor chief stressed the government would not allow deployment of Filipino domestic helpers until the Lebanese and the Philippine governments forge an agreement ensuring the welfare of household workers.

Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) chief Jennifer Manalili said no schedule has been set for talks on the lifting of the ban.

The Philippines ordered the ban in July 2006 after war broke out between Hezbollah and Israeli forces.

Despite the prevailing ban, local recruitment industry officials reported that hundreds of OFWs, particularly domestic helpers, have continued to sneak into Lebanon.

“At least 50 Filipino domestic helpers are leaving the country daily to work in Lebanon and other countries with existing deployment ban through the illegal escort service in our international airports,” a recruitment official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said.

Roque said DOLE is unlikely to lift the deployment ban in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria and Nigeria due to peace and order problems in those countries. – Mayen Jaymalin, Philippine Star