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[av_heading heading=’PH suspends worker deployment to Qatar’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY PRINCE GOLEZ
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Wednesday, June 7, 2017
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MANILA – No Filipino workers will be deployed to Qatar for a while after seven countries severed ties and closed their borders with the kingdom.
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) announced this on Tuesday, a day after Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt, Yemen, United Arab Emirates, and Libya cut diplomatic relations with Qatar and accused it of supporting extremism.
Sen. Nancy Binay, meanwhile, asked overseas labor-related agencies to develop contingency plans for the protection of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
According to DOLE, the temporary suspension will last for an indefinite period of time.
Earlier the Philippine Embassy advised OFWs in Qatar to remain calm and “exercise prudence as we all closely monitor the situation.”
OFWs were also asked to consult their travel agents and make necessary arrangements after Etihad Airways, Emirates Airlines and other regional carriers suspended flights to and from the kingdom.
Doha denied the accusations and said its Gulf neighbors were seeking to put the country under “guardianship.” The tensions had people hoarding food supplies for fear of shortage.
Senator Binay asked the Foreign Affairs and Labor departments, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, and Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Qatar to “prepare for any eventuality.”
“Huwag po tayong maghintay na lumala pa ang krisis (Let’s not wait for the crisis to worsen),” she said, adding that the government is “ready to extend help” to all OFWs who may be affected.
“Kailangan po nating tiyakin na laging ligtas at kalmado ang ating mga kababayan sa Qatar,” Binay added.
As of 2015 around 900,000 OFWs were in the Middle East, at least 130,000 of them were in Qatar, according to data from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration. Data from the broadcast network ABS-CBN showed 127,917 OFWs were deployed to Qatar as of 2016.
The crisis-ridden Middle East is a cause for concern for migrant workers, Binay said.
“It would be prudent for the government to arrange and coordinate with the Filipino community and organizations in Qatar regarding the situation of OFWs, especially [on] possible evacuation in case the situation worsens,” she said.
Binay also assured Labor secretary Silvestre Bello III that “we in the Senate will extend all the support he would need to make sure our kababayans in Qatar are safe, especially those near the borders.” (With a report from ABS-CBN News/PN)
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