POEA 'partially' lifts deployment ban to Libya

After the Philippine government lowered the alert level in Libya from “4” (evacuation/mandatory repatriation) to "2" (restriction phase), the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) has "partially" lifted the ban on the deployment of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) there.   But Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz stressed the lifting of the ban does not yet allow newly hired OFWs to be deployed to Libya, at least for now.   “The lowering of the alert level, and consequently the lifting of the ban, will not cover the deployment to Libya of newly-hired OFWs,” Baldoz said in a news release.   She said the deployment of new hires "will be determined at a future date and will be subject to further assessment to satisfy the government that enough guarantees exist to ensure the safety of our OFWs bound for Libya."   The POEA's governing board issued Resolution No. 10 lifting the ban "immediately," to allow the gradual re-deployment of OFWs, starting with those in the medical and oil sectors. For now, the POEA said the gradual re-deployment will cover returning workers in the medical and oil sectors only, subject to proof of existing employment as determined by the POEA.   Resolution 10 was in response to the recommendation of the Department of Foreign Affairs, and was approved by President Benigno Aquino III Tuesday.   Last Feb. 22, the POEA suspended the processing and deployment of OFWs bound for Libya due to heightened political unrest there. In October, an inter-agency committee composed of the DFA, POEA, and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration assessed the political and security situation in Libya.   The inter-agency committee noted that a significant number of Filipino workers who were repatriated during the height of the political crisis are clamoring to return to Libya and resume their work there.   Also, there were workers who wish to spend their Christmas vacation in the Philippines, but with the assurance that they would be allowed to go back after their vacation.   "To balance the security concerns with the clamor of the OFWs, the DFA has recommended to the President the lowering of the alert level in Libya; allow gradual deployment of returning workers in the medical and oil sectors only, subject to proof of existing employment, such as return to work letters from employers and appropriate visas, to be determined by the POEA; and allow the redeployment of returning workers from other sectors at a later time when the Philippine government is satisfied that there are enough safety guarantees for OFWs," the Labor Department said.   Baldoz said the resolution also directs the POEA to immediately issue the guidelines for its implementation. - KBK, GMA News