DOLE PR
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III on Wednesday has ordered a total deployment ban of overseas Filipino workers bound to Libya upon the advice of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) amid the escalating violence in the North African country.
“Upon the advice of the DFA, we are imposing a deployment ban of workers to Libya to ensure their safety and security and to avoid getting caught in the escalating violence in Libya,” Bello said.
DFA on Monday raised Alert Level III in Tripoli and some areas within a 100-kilometer radius of the capital, which is considered as voluntary repatriation phase.
Bello said DOLE is still in close coordination with DFA to closely monitor the situation and to assess the possible repatriation of OFWs, as well as to ensure the workers’ safety and security.
“DOLE is ready to provide repatriation assistance to our Filipino workers who will signify interest to come home. An augmentation team will be dispatched this week to ensure the welfare of our workers, and assist their possible repatriation. Also, we are prepared for any exigency of forced repatriation if the situation deteriorates,” Bello said.
There are around 2,600 documented OFWs in Libya, who are mostly professionals, mostly composed of medical workers and skilled workers.
Aside from repatriation aid, reintegration assistance from Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) also awaits to OFWs who may be repatriated from Libya.
The implementation of the deployment ban will take effect until the situation normalizes, or until further advice by the DFA with which DOLE is closely coordinating with.
DOLE, meanwhile, is in constant assessment of the situation and will issue appropriate advisories from time to time.
