MANILA, Philippines – President Gloria Macapagal lifted the ban on the deployment of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to Lebanon and Jordan apparently in a bid to widen the employment options for OFWs affected by the deepening global financial and economic crunch, a senior Malacanang official announced.
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said the President ordered the lifting as recommended by the Department of Foreign Affairs which cited the improved security situation in the two nations.
However, Ermita added President Arroyo left it to the Department of Labor and Employment to determine when the lifting of the ban would take effect.
At the same time, Ermita said the President ordered that the ban on the deployment of OFWs stays in Iraq and Afghanistan due to continued fighting between the US-led multinational forces and al-Qaeda militants as well as in Somalia and Nigeria where pirates frequently kidnap for ransom seafarers, including OFWs.
This developed as a reliable source revealed the lifting of the ban on Lebanon and Jordan could not take effect immediately because the labor department still has to work out the protective mechanisms to ensure the welfare and safety of the OFWs with their counterparts from the two nations.
For instance, the Philippines and Lebanon have yet to agree on a policy on the hiring of OFWs, particularly domestic helpers, said the source, who requested anonymity because he is not allowed to speak to media on the issue.
In particular, the source disclosed that the Philippines wants Lebanese and Jordanian employers to comply with the minimum $400 monthly salary for the Filipino domestic helpers.
According to the source, such compliance is needed because contracts to be entered into between the employers and the OFWs would have to pass through the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA).
Another requirement, the source said, is for the Lebanese and Jordanian employers to renew their accreditation with the POEA and to tie up anew with licensed Manila-based recruitment agencies.
The Philippines imposed the OFW deployment ban in Lebanon in 2006 following the outbreak of violence between Israeli forces and Hezbollah militants.
Despite the ban, about 20,000 OFWs have remained in Lebanon even when the Philippine government ordered the repatriation of Filipinos to take them out of harm’s way because of the war.
On the other hand, the Philippines ordered a partial ban on the sending of OFWs to Jordan due to the alarming increase in the number of domestic workers who ran away from their “abusive” employers.
In a related development, the Middle East branch of Migrante International denounced the lifting of the ban to Lebanon and Jordan, warning that this would result in an increase cases of maltreatment of, and labor rights violations against against OFWs.
Migrante is the largest non-government organization which was established mainly to look after the welfare and interests of the more than eight million OFWs deployed in the Middle East, US and North American, the UK and Italy as well as in neighboring countries like Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, Korea and Malaysia.
Migrante assailed the lifting of the ban even in the absence of a clear blueprint or labor agreement that would ensure that the rights and welfare of the OFWs are protected.
It warned this could result in more OFWs seeking refuge at the Philippine embassy shelters in Lebanon and Jordan because of abuses and maltreatment from their employers.
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