OFW ban in Lebanon not yet over, says POEA chief

MANILA, Philippines - Recruitment agencies cannot send Filipino workers to Lebanon yet as the ban imposed in 2006 is still far from being lifted, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) has said. POEA Administrator Jennifer Manalili issued the statement on Wednesday following news reports that that a Lebanese panel is scheduled to come to the Philippines to finalize a proposed memorandum of agreement (MOA) that seeks to provide protection to Filipino workers. The proposal also sets a minimum salary of US$400 monthly for household workers. “I’m clueless how these reports came about," Manalili told GMANews.TV in a phone interview. “The Lebanon side has yet to report. We still have to sit down with them. We have yet to get their counter-proposal," she added. The Philippines stopped sending workers to Lebanon in July 2006 at the height of fighting between the Hezbollah and Israeli forces. About 6,000 Filipino workers were repatriated to the Philippines at that time, but more than 20,000 opted to remain in Lebanon. Despite a go-signal from Malacaňang and the Office of the Vice President, the Department of Labor and Employment has refused to lift the ban unless the Lebanese government ensures the protection and safety of Filipino workers. Labor Secretary Marianito Roque has vehemently opposed the lifting of the ban without guarantees from the Lebanese government, due to the high number of Filipino maids running away from abusive employers. The Philippine ambassador to Lebanon, Gilberto Asuque, has also said that unless Lebanon signs a MOA ensuring the protection of OFWs, the ban should remain. Lebanon’s honorary consul to the Philippines, Joseph Assad, expressed optimism earlier that the discussions of both panels would result in the early lifting of the ban. Roque, Manalili, and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration chief Carmelita Dimzon went to Beirut, Lebanon's capital, last May 7 to look into the concerns of OFWs in Lebanon. They also engaged in high-level talks with Immigration and Labor Ministry officials on the early lifting of the ban upon Lebanon’s acceptance of the provisions of the MOA. - Kimberly Jane T. Tan, GMANews.TV