60 more OFWs from Israel to arrive Monday

The fourth batch of Filipinos repatriated from Israel arrives in Manila today (Monday), according to the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW).

These 60 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) consist of 32 hotel workers and 28 caregivers.

Three batches totaling 59 OFWs have already returned home from Israel amid the conflict between Israeli forces and Palestinian militant group Hamas.

DMW officer in charge Undersecretary Hans Leo Cacdac said other forms of assistance would be made available to the repatriated workers.

He said there would also be livelihood assistance to be offered by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration.

Overseas employment facilitation assistance would be provided by the DMW for returning OFWs who might want to consider going to other countries for employment, while the Department of Labor and Employment would offer local employment facilitation services for those who would choose to stay and work in the Philippines, Cacdac said.

Two missing Filipinos

He said the DMW would prioritize the redeployment of the repatriated OFWs to Israel soon after the hostilities.

“The first option is always to have them go back to their current employment once the situation deescalates,” Cacdac said.

“That’s why we are making sure that there is an amicable separation between employers and employees before the OFWs are repatriated, so that once the situation improves, they can look forward to coming back,” he added.

There are an estimated 30,000 Filipinos in Israel, the majority of them working as caregivers, according to government data.

The government has so far confirmed the deaths of four Filipinos in the war triggered by the Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas which led to the killing of 1,400 Israelis.

Israel responded by declaring war on Gaza, imposing a complete blockade and massive bombing of Hamas targets.

Cacdac said the government was coordinating with the Israel Defense Forces to locate two missing Filipinos.

“We’re hoping that they will be found soon,” he said.

Reuters earlier reported that Hamas was holding captives from different countries, including two from the Philippines.

The Israeli Embassy in Manila said Friday the two remaining missing Filipinos in Israel were “likely” kidnapped.

Meanwhile, 124 OFWs from Lebanon have also sought repatriation, Cacdac said.

The Philippine Embassy in Beirut is recommending the “voluntary repatriation” of Filipinos in Lebanon as border tensions rise between Israel and Hezbollah in the wake of the Israel-Hamas war.

Cacdac said the DMW was exhausting all efforts to ensure that the OFWs would arrive in the country at the soonest possible time. INQ