Philippines bans deployment of workers to Israel

Manila cites security concerns as cause for limiting overseas employment

By Ilan Ben Zion 28 November 2012, 4:50 am Edit

Ilan Ben Zion is an AFP reporter and a former news editor at The Times of Israel.

A Filipino caretaker at a promenade in Tel Aviv. (photo credit: Moshe Shai/Flash90)

Manila on Tuesday ordered a ban on permitting Filipino workers to travel to Israel as overseas workers because of the recent flare-up of hostilities between Hamas and Israel.

Philippine Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said Monday that the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) issued a ban on deploying Filipino workers to Israel, citing the country’s concern for its citizens’ safety.

“After consultation with the Department of Foreign Affairs, the POEA ordered a deployment ban due to the ongoing Israel-Hamas armed conflict,” The Philippine Star quoted Baldoz saying.

The Philippine government suspended processing and deploying newly hired workers to southern and central Israel, she added.

Approximately 300,000 Filipinos currently reside and work in Israel.