Deployment Ban On Nigeria, Libya And Sudan Lifted

THE Philippines has lifted the ban on the deployment of overseas Filipino workers to Nigeria, Libya and Sudan.

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz, also chairman of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration Governing Board, on Thursday said the Board had issued three separate resolutions lifting the ban on the deployment of Filipino overseas workers to the said countries.

The first resolution, Resolution 4, Series of 2012, fully lifts the ban on Libya following the recommendation of the Department of Foreign Affairs on March 2 for the lifting in view of the improved security situation in that country.

The ban on the deployment of OFWs to Nigeria was imposed on January 22, 2007, in the light of repeated incidents of kidnappings and unrest at that time.

On March 13, 2007, the ban was partially lifted to allow the redeployment of OFWs who were on vacation and were returning to the same employers. It was re-imposed on January 31, 2008, and this time, the ban also covered Filipino seafarers onboard ships entering Nigerian ports. A partial lifting of the re-imposed ban was made on August 12, 2009.

 The second resolution, Resolution 5 Series of 2012, fully lifts the ban on the deployment of OFWs to Libya following the approval by the Office of the President of the recommendation of the Department of Foreign Affairs on February 23 lowering the crisis alert level in Libya from Alert Level 2 to Alert Level 1.

The POEA Governing Board suspended the processing and deployment of OFWs bound for Libya on February 22, 2011, because of heightened political unrest in that country.

On December 20, 2011, the Board issued Resolution 10 Series of 2011 which allowed for the gradual processing and redeployment of returning workers in the medical and oil sectors only, subject to proof of existing employment as determined by the POEA.

Read the rest of the news at:  BusinessMirror.com.ph