The coming year may bring some good news to Filipino workers who want to work in Nigeria as the government is planning to lift the deployment ban in the said African country on January 1.
According to the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), Labor Secretary and head of the POEA board, Rosalinda Baldoz will announce the lifting of the ban on New Year’s Day.
The POEA chief, Carlos, Cao Jr., said that Baldoz will convene the POEA board anytime to have the ban lifted effective January 1.
The deployment ban lifting in Nigeria is set despite news of bombings on Christmas day that claimed the lives of 39 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). Cao is hoping that the bombing incident would not affect the decision to lift the deployment ban.
The recommendation to lift the ban came from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) for the reason that the security situation in Nigeria has improved. The deployment ban in Nigeria was imposed due to the threat of piracy and kidnapping of Filipino seamen along its borders from 2006- 2009.
Apparently an average of 7200 Filipinos is currently employed in Nigeria. According to the DFA, Nigeria has 5000 job openings open to OFWs in the field of construction, oil and gas.
The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) released in its official website the list of 41 countries where there is an existing OFW deployment ban.
The Philippine Embassies/Philippine Missions have certified that the following host countries are not compliant with the guarantees provided under the Republic Act 10022 or the Amended Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995.
Check the list of non-compliant countries.
The chief of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), Carlos Cao Jr. said that the deployment of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in 41 countries is currently banned.
However, the official report identifying the 41 countries is yet to be released.
The POEA halts the deployment in 41 counties because of their failure to comply with the requirements that are stated in Republic Act 10022 or the Amended Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995.
When will POEA release the list countries where OFW deployment is banned?
According to the POEA, the deployment ban of OFW in Libya stays despite the recent death of ousted Libyan President, Muammar Gaddafi. Filipinos will only be allowed to work in Libya again once a new and safe government is established in Libya. The POEA Chief, Carlos Cao Jr. ensured that the transitional council will conduct a mapping operation to ensure that Libya is a safe work destination.
The secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Rosalinda Baldoz orders the strict implementation of deployment ban to 5 Middle Eastern countries. As of this writing, employment contracts of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) bound to Lebanon, Nigeria, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Jordan will not be processed.
The government agency deemed it necessary to guarantee the safety and welfare of OFWs. In an article that appeared in the DOLE website, Baldoz said, “As far as the DOLE is concerned, there remain in effect restrictions on the processing and deployment of OFWs in view of the peace and order situation in those areas. The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) is tasked to implement these restrictions imposed on both legitimate recruitment agencies and OFWs.”
Click here to view full article about the deployment ban on OFWs in Lebanon, etc.
The coming year may bring some good news to Filipino workers who want to work in Nigeria as the government is planning to lift the deployment ban in the said African country on January 1.