Manila: The labour department has reiterated that government restrictions against sending Filipino migrant workers to certain "high risk" countries will remain in place to ensure their welfare and protection.
In an official statement, Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz of the Department of Labour and Employment (Dole) said that restrictions against the processing and deployment of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), in certain areas of the globe, remain in force in order to ensure their welfare and protection.
Peace and order
"In so far as the Dole is concerned, there remain in effect restrictions on the processing and deployment of OFWs in view of the peace and order situation in those areas," Dimapilis-Baldoz said.
Currently, the government observes a ban on processing and sending Filipino migrant workers to Afghanistan, Nigeria, Iraq and Lebanon.
A temporary suspension on applicants to household service worker jobs (maids) in Jordan, is also being observed by the labour department.
Baldoz, said that the intention of the government in imposing the restrictions was to build on the protection and welfare of OFWs and reach out to those in need of help.
Pressure to lift ban
The labour department's move to abide by the restrictions came in the midst of a clamour from manpower agencies to lift the ban on sending workers abroad.
Manpower agencies said that the OFWs had missed out on opportunities for high paying employment opportunities — in war-torn countries such as Iraq and Afghanistan — due to the restrictions.
