Noli bares comprehensive rescue plan for OFWs in Lebanon

Task Force Lebanon began formulating a comprehensive plan to repatriate the remaining overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Lebanon despite the lull from the United Nations-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah guerrillas.

Task Force chairman Vice President Noli de Castro said more than 11,000 Filipinos have already left Lebanon even after the ceasefire was implemented.

Records from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) show that more than 6,000 Filipino workers have been repatriated since the conflict in Lebanon erupted last month.

De Castro explained the difference is accounted for by the remaining 5,000 Filipino workers who opted to go with their Lebanese employers to seek refuge in other countries.

De Castro said the efforts are focused on repatriating the remaining OFWs in Lebanon being prevented by their employers to return home.

The plan covers Filipinos in Northern Israel, De Castro explained, which requires the tedious task of tracking undocumented OFWs.

According to De Castro, at least 55 percent of the OFWs repatriated from Lebanon were undocumented workers.

The Vice President earlier announced the Philippine government will hire Lebanese lawyers to handle the cases of OFWs whose employment contracts have been violated.

De Castro said there are still many OFWs being prevented by their employers to return to the Philippines.

"Aside from the legal team that has been already sent to Lebanon, the government will also hire Lebanese lawyers to free OFWs from abusive employers," he said.

Even with the relative peace created by the ceasefire, De Castro said the task force will continue its efforts to repatriate all OFWs in Lebanon.

"This is consistent with our government’s position to reduce the number of unskilled workers deployed to other countries, particularly those known to be cruel or unsympathetic to OFWs," De Castro said.

He said the task force has been receiving several reports of OFWs being physically abused by their employers aside from non-payment of salaries.

"The current plight of our OFWs who are still in the hands of Lebanese employers makes their continued repatriation even more necessary despite the relatively peaceful situation in Lebanon at present," De Castro said.

"Unfortunately, the ongoing ceasefire between Israeli and Hezbollah forces has given Lebanese employers reason to hold our OFWs," he said.

The DFA, meanwhile, advised Filipinos to avoid unnecessary travel to Sri Lanka as violence escalates in the northern and east regions of the country, including in the capital Colombo.

The travel advisory was issued following the recommendation of Philippine Ambassador to Bangladesh Norberto Basilio, who has current jurisdiction over Sri Lanka.