MANILA – There will be no deployment ban on overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to Israel but only suspension of their departure for few days, according to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
DOLE secretary Silvestre Bello III said the suspension will last for few days due to the ongoing conflict between the Jewish state and Palestine.
“We have not banned the deployment of our workers to Israel. The processing of those who already qualified continues. We are merely suspending their actual departure while the tension is still high,” Bello said.
The secretary issued the statement to clarify his announcement on ABS-CBN’s Teleradyo on Thursday morning where he said that a deployment ban on Filipino workers in Israel took place.
“Ang pakiusap ko pa sa ating mga paalis na caregivers at health care workers ay ipagpaliban ng ilang araw ang kanilang biyahe upang hindi sila mapahamak,” he added.
Bello was referring to the 400 caregivers who are set to be deployed in Israel.
“Sagutin ko po sila kay Pangulong [Rodrigo] Duterte kung ano man ang mangyari sa kanila in case sila ay umalis sa kabila ng mataas na tension doon sa Israel,” he added.
The past few weeks, tension broke out in Israel following the exchange of fire between the Israeli forces and the Palestinian-backed Hamas group.
The Malacañang, meanwhile, backed DOLE’s decision since it ensures the safety of the OFWs who are willing to work there./PN
