MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) issued a warning yesterday to all aspiring overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who are seeking employment in Syria and other countries with existing deployment ban.
“We are reiterating our appeal to our OFWs to avoid going to Syria due to security risks,” Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said.
Baldoz issued the reminder to OFWs amid reports that Filipino household service workers (HSWs) continue to arrive in Syria, even as the government implements a mandatory repatriation of OFWs from the war-torn country.
“Based on the information from our Philippine Labor Office in Syria, hostilities have escalated and most of our OFWs there are already seeking repatriation, so those who want to work abroad should avoid going there,” she added.
Earlier, recruitment industry leaders called on the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) to look into the continued illegal deployment of HSWs to Syria, Lebanon and Jordan.
Recruitment official Lito Soriano said they have received information that some licensed agencies are now engaged in illegal deployment of HSWs to Syria by using Dubai as jump-off point.
The POEA earlier cautioned OFWs against the risks of leaving the country using tourist visas to enter and work in countries with existing deployment ban.
POEA chief Hans Cacdac said without proper employment and traveling documents, OFWs are more prone to abuses and exploitation.
Cacdac also reported that illegal recruiters are using a third or fourth country, usually an ASEAN-member country where visa is not required, and other countries in the Middle East as jump-off points to send Filipino workers to banned destinations.
The POEA has existing deployment bans on Iraq, Afghanistan, South Sudan, Libya, Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, and Nigeria.
“Dubai is one of the favorite destinations of Filipino workers wanting to find work overseas, but a foreigner holding a visit visa is not allowed to work there and other countries,” Cacdac explained.
Baldoz said she would order the POEA to conduct an investigation into the alleged illegal deployment of OFWs using Dubai as entry point to banned countries.