MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Wednesday ordered a total ban on the deployment overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to Tripoli and several other areas in Libya amid the continuous violence in the country’s capital.
Labor secretary Silvestre Bello III said the decision to impose the ban came after consultation with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
“After consultation with the Department of Foreign Affairs, [the Philippine Overseas Employment and Administration (POEA)] hereby imposes a deployment ban on the processing and deployment of all OFWs in Tripoli and areas within the 100-kilometer radius of the capital as identified in the DFA bulletin,” Bello said in an interview with DZMM.
Bello added that the deployment of Filipino workers waiting for their scheduled trip to Tripoli and the mentioned areas will also be postponed.
The DFA on Monday declared several districts in Libya under Alert Level III amid the escalating violence in the country.
Among the areas declared under Alert Level III include the country’s capital Tripoli, and nearby areas: Tajoura, Ghot Romman, Qaraboli, Qasr Khiyar, Esbea, Tarhuna, Bani Waled, Gharyan, Aziziya, Warshifana, Zawia, Surman, and Sabratha. /ee
READ: DFA raises alert level 3 in Tripoli, several districts in Libya