Philippines stops deployment to Lebanon

MANILA, Philippines — The government has temporarily suspended the deployment of Filipino workers to Lebanon, not because of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), but due to the deteriorating political and economic situation in the West Asian country.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) governing board recently approved the resolution imposing a ban in deployment of newly hired workers to Lebanon.

Bello said the resolution covers crew changes, embarkation and shore leaves of Filipino seafarers cruising Lebanon.

The POEA came out with the resolution after the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) raised the crisis alert level in Lebanon to “2,” which is the “restriction phase.”

“In view of the recent developments in the Middle East and the current political and economic situation, the DFA raised the crisis alert level from 1 to 2,” Bello said.

In 2007, the Philippines imposed a total ban in deployment of Filipino workers to Lebanon. It was lifted in 2012, except for newly hired household service workers (HSWs) pending an agreement on a standard employment contract.

Meanwhile, the local recruitment industry sees a massive drop in the hiring of Fiipino workers abroad as more countries imposed travel restrictions to address the spread of COVID-19.

The World Health Organization (WHO) previously listed Lebanon among countries affected by the COVID-19 epidemic.

Recruitment officials noted that the governments of Qatar and Kuwait have already banned the entry of foreign workers, including Filipinos.

Saudi Arabia, the top destination of OFWs, may likely follow in imposing a restriction on the entry of Filipino workers, they said.