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MANILA, Philippines--(UPDATE) The Philippine labor secretary on Monday denied reports that he has lifted a ban on sending Filipino workers to Jordan that had been imposed after allegations of abuse emerged there.
Labor Secretary Marianito Roque was reacting to reports quoting Jordanian Labor Minister Bassem Salem as saying the two countries had agreed to resume deploying Filipino workers to his country.
"I have not signed any decision yet to lift it," Roque said.
Salem had earlier told Agence France-Presse that "the two sides have agreed on the freeze, but reached an agreement to end it around two or three days ago."
The Philippines imposed the employment ban in January due to a rising number of abuse reports filed by the workers, including for non-payment of wages, mistreatment and even rape.
Philippines Ambassador to Jordan Julius Torres had said abuse cases were being settled and Filipino household workers were expected to resume work in Jordan by the end of April, according to earlier reports.
Some eight million Filipinos, or nearly 10 percent of the country's population, work abroad. Remittances they send home are a major pillar of the domestic economy.
