Phl mulls imposing temporary ban on deployment of workers to Ukraine

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - The Philippines is considering a temporary ban on the deployment of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to Ukraine, a senior government official said today.

Department of Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz, chairman of the Governing Board of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), said she will convene members of the Board to deliberate on a resolution banning temporarily the deployment of OFWs.

"In view of the move of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) raising the crisis alert level in Ukraine to Alert Level 2, we will deliberate on a resolution while awaiting the official transmission of DFA recommendation on the situation in Ukraine," she said.

The DFA's Alert Level System is prescribed in the Crisis Management and Security Manual, which principally guides government action in times of crisis.

In the Alert Level System, Alert Level 2 calls for " Restriction" where there are visible signs of unrest and, therefore, a temporary ban on the deployment of new workers in a restive country may be imposed.

With the raising of the crisis alert level, the DFA has strongly advised all Filipinos in Ukraine to restrict non- essential movements, avoid public places, closely monitor developments, and prepare for possible evacuation.