PH lifts suspension of OFW deployment to Israel

MANILA – The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Wednesday has lifted the suspension on the deployment of Filipino workers to Israel.

In a memorandum, DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello III directed Labor Attaché Rodolfo Gabasan of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Israel to implement the lifting of the order effective immediately.

The lifting of the temporary suspension of deployment was based on the recommendation of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

“In the interest of service and based on the recommendation of the Department of Foreign Affairs to withdraw the temporary suspension of departure of OFWs to Israel as there have been low level incidents between the Israel Defense Force and Palestinian militant groups since the Hamas ceasefire took effect on May 21, 2021, you are hereby instructed to effect the lifting of the suspension of the temporary departure of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) to Israel effective immediately,” it added.

Earlier, Bello directed Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) head Bernard Olalia to start processing the documents of workers.

According to the DOLE chief, more Filipino workers are needed in the host country particularly in the health and tourism sectors.

Last May, the government imposed a temporary deployment ban of Filipino workers to the Middle Eastern country amid tensions between Israeli troops and Palestinian militant group Hamas.

A ceasefire brokered by Egypt ended the almost two-week conflict between the two sides that claimed the lives of at least 231 Palestinians and 12 Israelis.