THE Department of Labor and Employment has lifted the ban on the deployment to Libya of Filipino workers who already have valid and existing contracts, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said on Wednesday.
“The POEA Governing Board now allows the resumption of the processing and deployment of Filipino workers to Libya,” Bello, who is also the chairperson of the POEA Governing Board, said.
The POEA lifted the ban on the deployment of returning OFWs to Libya following the lowering of the crisis alert level in the said country from Alert Level 4 to Alert Level 2 (restriction phase).
But the order will only apply to returning Filipino workers with existing contracts and they have to submit the documents required by the Philippine Embassy in Tripoli.
These documents are copies of existing contracts; certification of salaries and benefits of OFWs; letter from the employer requesting for the return of the OFWs; security and safety guarantees through valid company certifications; medical and life insurance coverage; and guarantee of immediate repatriation based on submitted contingency plans.
Bello reiterated that the deployment ban for newly hired OFWs shall be maintained until further notice.
The government suspended the processing and deployment of OFWs bound for Libya in 2014 because of heightened political unrest there.
Bello also said that on 18 August 2016, the Department of Foreign Affairs conducted job site visit to Libya to assess the general situation in the said country, thus lifting lowering crisis alert level from 4 to 2.