Locsin blames PHL labor attaché for US ban on work visas

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. has put the blame on a Philippine labor attaché for the US government's decision to remove Filipinos' eligibility to obtain H-2A and H-2B work visas for one year.

"One of our labor attaches questioned such visas so I guess we got what we asked for," Locsin said on Twitter, responding to an inquiry regarding his thoughts on the matter.

In another tweet, Locsin said, "Thank you to the labor attache who denounced work/study J1 visas as slavery. She started the halls rolling. Salamat on behalf of Filipinos who won’t be allowed into the US anymore. Good work."

He did not identify the official.

A recent notice from US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said Filipino citizens may not seek employment in the US with temporary visas for foreign agricultural and non-agricultural workers between January 19, 2019 to January 18, 2020.

The DHS banned the entry of additional Filipino workers with H2-A and H2-B visas due to "severe" overstaying and human trafficking concerns.

H-2A visas are temporary visas for foreign agricultural workers while H2-B visas are issued to foreign workers providing non-agricultural services in the US.

The DFA earlier said it will work with the US government to address concerns that led to the ban.

"As visa issuances are a country’s prerogative, the DFA notes the concerns that led the DHS to arrive at its decision," it said in statement on Tuesday.

"Nonetheless, the Philippines is open to the possibility of working with the United States in addressing these issues, as it has previously done so with similar concerns involving the Filipino community there." —KBK, GMA News