DOLE imposes deployment ban to Iraq, Iran, Lebanon

January 8, 2020

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Wednesday announced  they will no longer allow overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to be deployed in the three countries.

In a hastily-called press conference, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III announced that a total deployment ban will be imposed in Iran, Iraq, and Lebanon as the tension in the Middle East escalates.

"There is already a deployment ban in those areas. They are under Alert Level 4 so it means there is a deployment ban. There can be no more deployment there," said Bello. 

Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) Administrator Bernard Olalia said a governing board resolution for the deployment ban in the three countries will be a mere formality. 

"We still need to issue the POEA Governing Board Resolution. But as we speak, we will already prohibit the processing of papers," said Olalia

Bello said they are making the announcement as they now illegal recruiters  may take advantage of the situation. 

"There are really those that are taking advantage by using illegal channels to deploy OFWs. They course them through countries like Laos, Cambodia, Hong Kong, Malaysia before bringing them to those countries," said Bello. 

Aside from total deployment ban, the raising of Alert Level 4 means mandatory repatriation for OFWs in the three countries will be undertaken. 

Bello said the government will try to repatriate as many OFWs as they can. 

"We will ask them to join the repatriation efforts. However, if they do not cooperate, then we can no longer do anything about it. We will also get in touch with their employers to let our OFWs come home,” Bello said.

Lebanon has 33,424 overseas Filipino workers; 2,191 OFWs in Iraq, and 1,184 OFWs in Iran.

The number may double as there are undocumented OFWs in the three countries, according to Bello. 

And to help in the repatriation efforts, he said Rapid Response Teams (RRT) have been constituted for their immediate deployment, led by Olalia, who will be sent to Lebanon. 

"Olalia will be facing more difficulties because he will be in Lebanon. It already achieved Alert Level 4, which means mandatory repatriation," he stressed. 

As for Iraq and Iran, Bello said they will rely more on the Department of Foreign Affairs since they don't have Philippine Overseas Labor Offices in the two countries. 

Bello said Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac will be sent to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait while Labor Undersecretary Claro Arellano will go to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).  

"They will bring with them RRTs, so that they can immediately brief our OFWs there of the situation and the action the Department will take to ensure a safe repatriation of our OFWs in case that will be the resort that we will have to take," he explained. 

Records show 2,174,611 Filipinos, documented and undocumented, are in the Middle East, including United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, and Israel.

Bello said thereis an initial amount of P600 million for the immediate repatriation and assistance to affected OFWs. 

Repatriated Filipinos will be provided with livelihood assistance and training under the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). 

Bello said they will also be encouraged to apply in other overseas job markets, such as Russia, Japan, and Canada. DMS