MANILA, Philippines – Almost all Filipino workers in Syria are undocumented, making it hard for the Philippine government to repatriate them from the strife-torn country, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.
During a Senate hearing on the agency’s proposed budget for 2012, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs Esteban Conejos said 98% of around 17,000 Filipinos in Syria are undocumented.
“They don’t go through the process, so there’s no record of them,” he said.
Conejos said this hampers the agency’s efforts to account for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Syria and have them repatriated amid the worsening political situation there.
He added this was unlike the OFW situation in Libya, a country still struggling to rebuild itself after a violent rebellion that overthrew its leader, Moammar Gaddafi.
“In Libya, most of our workers were skilled, semi-skilled. They were regular workers. We knew exactly where they were, and how many they were,” Conejos said.
The DFA is now tracking down these Filipinos, who are mostly domestic helpers, he said. –abs-cbnNEWS.com
June 2025
Philippine Environment Month!
“Action for Nature, for the Future!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry recommendations
against serious violations of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association protocols.
Accept National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar. Reject Military!
#WearMask #WashHands #Distancing #TakePicturesVideosturesVideos
Monthly Observances:
1 Jun – World Day of Parents
5 Jun – World Environment Day
7 Jun – World Food Safety Day
8 Jun – World Oceans Day
12 Jun – World Day Against Child Labour
15 Jun – World Elder Abuse Awareness Day
16 Jun – International Day of Family Remittances
17 Jun – World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought
20 Jun – World Refugee Day
25 Jun – Day of the Seafarer
27 Jun – Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Day
Daily Observances:
June 6: Migrant Workers Day
June 19: Filipino Youth Day
June 25: Day of the Filipino Seafarer
