No Middle East deployment ban in place — DMW

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) on Wednesday dismissed reports that thousands of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) have been stranded due to a supposed deployment ban in the Middle East.

In a statement, the DMW said no deployment bans are currently in place across the region, despite varying alert levels raised by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in some Middle Eastern countries amid ongoing tensions.

The agency added that recruitment agencies have been instructed to closely monitor their deployed workers and provide immediate assistance when needed.

“Our shared responsibility is to ensure the safety and well-being of our OFWs, especially in times of crisis,” said Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac.

The DMW also reiterated its commitment to support OFWs and their families affected by the conflict. It noted that its Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) has been updated to better reflect the risks and security conditions workers may face in their host countries.

Earlier, the DMW reported that 4,241 Filipinos had been repatriated from the Middle East as of last week.

More batches of Filipino repatriates are expected to arrive in the country in the coming days.—MCG, GMA News