The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) temporarily suspended on Thursday (May 20) the deployment of 400 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to Israel.
DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello III said in an interview that the purpose of the temporary suspension is to observe the situation in Israel amid the tension between Israel and Hamas, and ensure the safety of the OFWs once the suspension is lifted.
Some 400 OFWs were set to be deployed to Israel as caregivers this month.
“Gusto natin na kapag dineploy natin sila, ay ligtas sila sa kapahamakan,” Bello said.
He clarified that there is currently no implemented deployment ban on Israel, and that OFWs are continuously processing their applications despite the suspension.
He added that a deployment ban will only take place when the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) raises alert level 3 on Israel and the Gaza Strip. In a recent DFA advisory, alert level 1 is raised on Israel and alert level 2 on the Gaza Strip.
Meanwhile, Bello reported that as of May 20, there are no injured or dead OFWs recorded in the said areas. There are also no Filipinos requesting repatriation.
Report from Louisa Erispe/NGS-jlo
