DOLE: OFWs in Libya safe, no need for repatriation

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) yesterday assured the people that Filipino workers in Libya are safe and there is no immediate need for repatriation despite the recent outbreak of violence against the United States embassy in Benghazi.

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said that international companies that employ most of the estimated 3,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Libya have proven in the past that they can ensure the safety and security of their workers.

“Despite the current situation in Libya, what I am at peace about is that our workers are not exposed to great risk because they are employed by big companies and hospitals which have safe and security plan,” Baldoz said.

Baldoz said there is no need to impose a deployment ban or undertake mandatory repatriation of Filipino workers from Libya.

“Unless the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has come out with an assessment and will say there is a security risk, the labor department cannot impose a ban because we will have no basis,” Baldoz pointed out.

Baldoz said Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario informed her that they would soon be undertaking an assessment of the security situation in Libya and neighboring countries before coming out with a recommendation to the DOLE.

“What we are focusing on now is the repatriation of our Filipino workers in Syria,” she added.

Baldoz said there are only a few OFWs in Libya because the government had earlier imposed a deployment ban and repatriated many workers at the height of the civil war in that country last year.

The government has already resumed the deployment of workers to Libya but it was only limited to medical workers and employees in the oil and gas industry.

Baldoz said there is a growing demand for construction workers in Libya, but the country has not yet deployed Filipino construction workers at this time.

DFA spokesman Raul Hernandez said that the anti-US demonstrations were focused on Benghazi.

“The report coming from our embassy in Tripoli said the demonstrations and attacks were focused in Benghazi and there were no demonstrations happening in Tripoli. The demonstrations were also targeted towards the US facility in Libya and I think that also is true in Egypt and Yemen,” Hernandez told reporters.

“But in general the Filipinos there are safe. There were no reports of any untoward incident that has affected any of our nationals in those areas,” he added.

Hernandez said the Filipinos in Libya, Egypt and Yemen have already been advised to be vigilant and make sure that they do not get close to the area where there are demonstrations.

In Libya, officials had made some arrests after US Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other US personnel were killed during the violent protests at the US consulate in Benghazi.

“There are some demonstrations happening in Cairo and also in Yemen but our countrymen are safe. The embassies are constantly and closely monitoring the security situation in the area and they are in touch with Filipino community leaders,” Hernandez added.

On Friday, the Philippines expressed outrage over the criminal and senseless act of violence in Benghazi, which resulted in the deaths of four US diplomats, saying this heinous act should be condemned by the international community. – With Pia Lee-Brago