Tighter border restrictions in some countries due to potential threats of the Omicron variant of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) will affect the deployment of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) said Friday, Dec. 3.
POEA Administrator Bernard P. Olalia said while there is still no deployment ban imposed in countries with cases of the new variant, the suspension of flights will prevent them from leaving the Philippines for employment abroad.
Olalia cited the latest resolution of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases which prohibits inbound travel to countries under the "red list" for being classified as "high risk" to COVID-19.
The countries placed under the "red list" in the IATF resolution are South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique, Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, The Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, and Italy.
"Bilang nasa red list, kanselado po lahat ng incoming international flight at siyempre wala ring outbound international flight. Hindi po makakaalis ang ating mga OFWs (All incoming international flights from red countries are cancelled, so of course there are also no outbound flights. OFWs will not be able to leave)," Olalia noted.
The POEA chief said they will issue a labor advisory informing OFWs on the suspension of flights to the "red countries" due to the existing IATF resolution.
However, Olalia said that OFWs in red countries bound to the Philippines on a government-initiated flight or flights arranged by the Philippine Overseas Labor Office or the Department of Foreign Affairs will still be allowed entry subject to health and safety protocols.
According to Olalia, returning OFWs will be required to undergo facility-based quarantine for 14 days before rejoining their families in time for the Christmas season.