Recruiters seek updates on OFWs in Qatar

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Association of Recruitment Agencies for Qatar (PARAQ) yesterday ordered its members to communicate with the overseas Filipino workers they deployed to Qatar to check if the OFWs are affected by the crisis there.

This was in response to the order of Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III to update the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) of the situation of the OFWs in Qatar to ensure their safety and welfare.?“Deploying agencies are enjoined to help in knowing what is happening on the ground pertinent to the situation of the OFWs and employers,” PARAQ president Mirriam Mondragon said in a statement yesterday.?Mondragon also said the information should be forwarded for validation to Labor Attaché David des Dicang to help the government have a clearer picture of the situation of OFWs in Qatar.

Qatar was suspected of supporting terrorism. For this reason, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt and Yemen cut their ties and closed their borders to the kingdom. The move was followed by Libya, Maldives and Comoros.?The DOLE imposed a temporary ban on the deployment of OFWs to Qatar after Arab countries cut their ties with Qatar.

But DOLE eventually lifted the ban partially for OFWs with Overseas Employment Certificates, which were issued to migrant workers before they can work abroad, and those returning to their jobs in Qatar.