The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) just made a big announcement: Private companies are being told to hold off on sending Filipino workers (OFWs) to certain countries in the Middle East because it’s too dangerous right now!
⚠️ What’s Happening?
There’s a big fight going on between countries like Iran and Israel. They are even using missiles and airstrikes (those are big, scary weapons). The fighting is so bad that it’s unsafe for anyone, including our kababayans (fellow Filipinos), to go there for work. 😟💣
✈️ Why Can’t OFWs Go?
DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac explained it clearly:
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Israel is under Alert Level 2, which means no new workers can be sent there — only those returning to their old jobs can go.
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But even that is impossible right now, because the airspace is restricted. That means planes are not allowed to fly in some areas!
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This affects not just Israel, but also Jordan, because the planes would just be turned back if they try to land. 😩🛬❌
📝 What Did DMW Tell Recruitment Agencies to Do?
All private recruitment companies (PRAs) must now:
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✅ Talk to employers abroad to check where OFWs are and if they’re safe.
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✅ Check on OFWs regularly and report updates using the official OFW system.
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✅ Make a backup plan in case people need to be evacuated or sent home quickly.
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✅ Pay for any flight rebookings or rerouting needed because of flight problems.
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❌ Stop sending workers to Israel and Jordan for now — wait for the “go” signal.
“Agencies must follow the rules,” Cacdac warned. “If not, they’ll get punished. And if we end up paying for the OFWs’ travel home — we’ll make the agencies pay us back!” 💸🚫
🆘 DMW Is Already Helping
As of June 19, DMW has already helped 58 OFWs who got stuck in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
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43 of them were supposed to go to Israel
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15 were heading to Jordan
DMW is making sure they get home safely or are taken care of while they wait. 🏠💙
DMW even met with agencies in Jordan to explain everything, and the good news is — the employers there are ready to help. They said:
“We’ll wait and support the stranded OFWs.”
🌍 What’s Happening Between Israel and Iran?
According to a Reuters report, there’s a huge fight between Israel and Iran right now. Israel launched its biggest-ever air attack because it wants to stop Iran from making nuclear weapons. That’s extremely serious and dangerous. 💥☢️
Because of this, the Philippine government is thinking about raising the danger alert level even higher for Israel and Iran.
Meanwhile, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said that 21 Filipino government workers who were also stuck in Israel have now safely crossed into Jordan. 🙏🇵🇭
🇵🇭 What This Means:
Filipino workers are brave and hardworking, but right now, it’s just not safe to go to some places in the Middle East. The government wants to protect them first and make sure no one gets hurt.
Let’s hope things calm down soon, and that every OFW can continue chasing their dreams safely. ❤️🌍
