ALL overseas Filipino workers (OFW) are now barred from heading to South Sudan amid the worsening security situation in the African state.
In a statement, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) has imposed a total deployment ban for South Sudan upon the recommendation of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
The deployment restriction covers both new hires and rehires.
Labor Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III said DFA raised the crisis alert level for South Sudan from 2 to 4 due to the “escalation of violence” between the forces allied with President Salva Kiir and the Protection Unit from the SPLA in Operation (SPLA-IO) of Vice President Riek Machar.
Under a crisis alert level 4, a total deployment ban, as well as a mandatory repatriation will be in effect in South Sudan.
Aside from the civil war in South Sudan, POEA also cited the African’s states noncompliance with the certification requirement from DFA as stipulated by Republic Act 10022 or the “Amended Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act.”
The certification is only issued to countries which are signatory/adopted international standards protection on the rights of migrant workers; have laws protecting migrant workers; or have a bilateral agreement with the Philippines to ensure the welfare of OFWs.
Bello, who also heads the POEA governing board, said the deployment restriction in South Sudan will be in effect “until further notice.”