Emergency hits new Filipino workers
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Citing the situation in Bangkok, Philippines halts fresh deployment of employees
The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) on Monday banned the deployment of Filipino workers in three places in Thailand in light of the imposition of an emergency decree in Bangkok and its suburbs.
Bangkok has been reeling from protests calling for the resignation of caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.
“The POEA Board, after consultation with the Department of Foreign Affairs, has approved a resolution to this effect,” Labour secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz, chair of the POEA governing board, said.
Baldoz said the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995 authorises the POEA board, after consultation with the Department of Foreign Affairs, to impose a ban on the deployment of Filipino migrant workers in pursuit of national interest or when public welfare so requires.
On January 23, the DFA raised Crisis Alert Level 2 (restriction phase) in Bangkok; Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani’s Lat Lum Kaeo district; and Samut Prakan’s Bang Phli district in light of the declaration of a 60-day state of emergency due to the escalating civil unrest.
“In view of this, the governing board decided to impose a temporary suspension on the processing and deployment of newly hired workers bound for these areas in Thailand,” Baldoz said.
Temporarily suspended
Under Crisis Alert Level 2, only the deployment of returning workers with existing employment contracts is allowed in the restricted areas while the deployment of newly hired OFWs is temporarily suspended.
“We strongly advise our overseas Filipino workers in Thailand to be vigilant and avoid going out as much as possible, especially if they have nothing important to do outside.
They should also stay alert and monitor the events in those areas,” Baldoz said.
She told the overseas workers that if they feel their security and safety is compromised, they should try to reach the Philippine Embassy in Thailand.
POEA records show the annual deployment of Filipino workers to Thailand has declined from 9,204 in 2012 to 6,021 in 2013.
Of the 6,021 Filipinos deployed to Thailand last year, only 252 were new hires, while 5,769 were re-hires.
Baldoz said the Philippine Embassy in Thailand was closely monitoring developments in the Thai capital.
