DMW: No Deployment Ban in Middle East, No Stranded OFWs

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has clarified that there is no deployment ban for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) bound for the Middle East, debunking circulating claims that around 40,000 workers are stranded in the Philippines.

In an official statement released Wednesday, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac assured the public and recruitment agencies that deployment to the region remains ongoing under existing government protocols despite heightened tensions.

“Our shared responsibility is to ensure the safety and well-being of our OFWs, especially in times of crisis,” Cacdac emphasized during a meeting with licensed recruitment agencies.

Deployment Continues Under Existing Protocols

The DMW explained that alert levels issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) do not automatically result in a total suspension of deployment.

Instead, the government continues to:

Monitor the situation closely in host countries
Coordinate with recruitment agencies
Provide assistance to deployed workers
Address concerns of those awaiting deployment

Recruitment agencies have also been directed to strengthen monitoring systems and ensure immediate support for OFWs, especially in areas facing higher security risks.

Enhanced Support and Preparedness

Amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East, the DMW is also:

Upgrading its Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) to better prepare workers
Continuing voluntary repatriation programs for OFWs who wish to return home
Providing reintegration support as directed by Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

New Opportunities for Returning OFWs

For returning workers seeking employment abroad again, the DMW has launched the Creating Alternative Labor Market initiative, which aims to speed up redeployment through: