DOLE: No deployment ban to Taiwan despite freeze on OFW hiring

The ban is a one-way street. Despite the freezing by the Taiwanese government on new work permits for OFWs in Taiwan, the Philippine government has not imposed any restrictions on deployment to that country, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) clarified on Tuesday.

There will also be no imminent evacuation of Filipinos from Taiwan, where OFWs have been subjected to harassment, discrimination and in a few violent cases, harm.

DOLE rejected the proposal to repatriate Filipino workers in Taiwan since there is no large imminent danger to the lives of Pinoys in that country such as a civil war.

While there is no deployment ban in Taiwan, the processing of work permits for new Filipino workers in that country has been halted for the meantime following the shooting of a 65-year-old fisherman by Philippine coast guards on May 10.

The coast guards said the fisherman's vessel had strayed into territorial waters. The incident sparked outrage in Taiwan at a time of high tension over regional maritime disputes.

On May 17, Taiwan froze the processing of work permits of new Filipino workers.

DOLE said it is considering South Korea and other Middle Eastern countries as alternatives for OFWs who may be affected by Taiwan's freeze hiring of new Filipino workers.

Meanwhile, DOLE expressed its confidence that the conflict will be resolved soon enough.

There are around 80,000 OFWs in Taiwan who mostly work as factory workers and caregivers. – Gian C. Geronimo, VVP/HS, GMA News