The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has imposed a total deployment ban on overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) bound for Israel and Iran amid the escalating air war between the two Middle East countries, a conflict expected to worsen following the involvement of the United States in recent bomb attacks.
DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said the OFW deployment ban – which covers new hires and returning workers – was prompted by the Department of Foreign Affairs’ declaration of Alert Level 3 over the two countries.
He added that all private recruitment agencies have already been advised of the ban.
“We took note of that and of course, if it’s Alert Level 3, that would mean total a deployment ban,” said Cacdac in a press briefing on Sunday night, June 23.
Prior to the declaration of Alert Level 3, he said they already issued an advisory to all private recruitment agencies to delay the deployment of their processed Filipino workers to conflict-affected countries in the Middle East to ensure their safety.
Israel was previously under Alert Level 2, which allowed only returning workers with valid contracts. However, even those OFWs were unable proceed due to airspace closures caused by ongoing tensions in the region.
As of June 19, a total of 58 stranded OFWs — including 43 bound for Israel and 15 for Jordan — have been assisted by DMW’s Migrant Workers Offices (MWOs) in Dubai and Abu Dhabi for repatriation.
“With the alert level, we will issue the corresponding notice to all about the total deployment ban for Israel and Iran,” said Cacdac.
There are around 30,000 OFWs in Israel.
On Sunday night, Cacdac announced that they have already secured 26 OFWs from Israel who earlier signified intent to be repatriated. They are expected to arrive in the country on Tuesday, June 24.
He said 33 more OFWs are expected to arrive from Israel to Jordan through a safe passageway and another repatriation flight will be arranged for them.
But Cacdac said they expect that the number of Filipinos who expressed interest to go back to the Philippines will continue to rise in the coming days amid the worsening security situation after the US bombing on Iran’s nuclear facilities.
From 85 OFWs in the first few days since the June 13 air assault of Israel on Iran, Cacdac said the number of OFWs who signified interest to go back to the Philippines has now reached 223. The increase was recorded in the past few days. (Aaron Recuenco)
