The Philippine government has assured overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) scheduled for deployment to Israel that they will receive assistance, following the suspension of deployments due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
According to the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), a group of OFWs were stranded in a Middle Eastern country after leaving Manila for Israel on October 7 or 8, when Hamas launched its attack. The Ben Gurion International Airport in Israel has since restricted aircraft entry.
The DMW and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) have agreed to provide assistance to stranded OFWs, as well as those who are still in the Philippines with approved Overseas Employment Certificates, contracts, and visas.
The Department of Foreign Affairs has placed Israel under Alert Level 2, whereby non-essential movement for Filipinos is restricted and there will be no new deployment of workers.
The DMW is coordinating with Israel’s Population and Immigration Authority to determine the exact number of OFWs unable to leave the Philippines for Israel. The agency said that the number of stranded OFWs is small, and that the deployment of caregivers to Israel has been suspended since October. Most of the affected Filipinos are believed to be employed as hotel workers.
Returning OFWs will be provided with livelihood aid, reintegration assistance, and psychosocial help. The specifics of this assistance have yet to be announced.
Meanwhile, the DMW said that 22 Filipinos in Israel are seeking repatriation, while foreign affairs officials said that 70 Filipinos in Gaza are requesting the same. The government has raised Alert Level 3 in Gaza, which means voluntary repatriation for Filipinos working and living in the war-torn area.
Source: PhilNews24 | October 13, 2023
