POEA starts processing contracts of Israel-bound workers

MANILA – The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Thursday reported that a total of 208 caregiver contracts for deployment to Israel are now being processed.

In a statement, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said the contracts have been forwarded to the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) for signing and processing, following the lifting of the suspension of OFW deployment to the Jewish state.

He added 23 work visas have been already filed with the Israeli Embassy in Taguig City while 90 more visa applications are ready for filing this week.

“Once the visas have been secured, POEA through its government placement branch will proceed with the processing of their overseas employment certificates and other travel documents,” Bello said in a statement.

With the resumption of OFW deployment to Israel, Bello is expecting that the agreement with Israel that provides for the employment of 1,000 Filipino care workers will be fully realized.

The deal was signed by President Rodrigo Duterte and then Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in 2018.

Israel is also in need of care workers and other service workers.

In May, the DOLE suspended the deployment of workers to Israel due to rising tensions between Israeli troops and Palestinian militant group Hamas which resulted in fierce offensives marked by deadly bombings.

The fighting which lasted for almost two weeks ended on May 21 after both sides reached a ceasefire brokered by Egypt.