Labor, government confident Lebanon strife won’t affect OFW deployment

The diaspora continues, and the government hopes it will.

Despite the escalating violence in Lebanon, the government is confident it would not affect efforts to deploy at least a million more Filipino workers in the Middle East.

Labor Secretary Arturo Brion said the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) continues to process and send Filipino workers to various Middle East countries despite the strife in Lebanon.

For its part, the umbrella group of recruitment agencies for the Middle East says that it sends abroad over 2,000 Filipino workers everyday, and Lebanon accounts for only 70 workers.

"The ban in deployment of OFWs to Lebanon is just temporary, and although there is an existing ban at this time the POEA continues to process the working documents of Lebanon-bound workers," Brion said.

The deployment of Filipino workers to Lebanon would be resumed as soon as the peace and order situation there has stabilized, Brion added.

The Philippine Association of Mediterranean Agencies Deploying Labours Inc. (PAMADEL) agrees with Brion.

Estrelita Hizon, PAMADEL president, said Lebanon accounts only for a small share in the country’s total annual deployment of workers abroad.

"We deploy over 2,000 OFWs abroad everyday, and Lebanon only accounts for 70 of the figure," she said.

Members of PAMADEL continue to deploy OFWs to other Middle East countries, she added.

Meanwhile, Hizon said local agencies deploying OFWs to Lebanon have opened a crisis-coordinating center to help Filipinos contact their relatives.

The crisis center located at the PAMADEL office in Malate, Manila would be providing 24-hour service to anyone who wishes to contact his or her relatives in Lebanon, she added.

On the other hand, the militant labor group Partido ng Manggagawa (PM) called on the government to allocate more funds for the relocation of OFWs in Lebanon and support to the families of affected workers.

In a statement, PM said that the fund previously allocated by the government is insufficient to ensure the safety and welfare of the OFWs.

"The families of affected OFWs should also be provided assistance since their loved ones could not send any more money to them," PM said. — Mayen Jaymalin