At least 22 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) have so far requested the Philippine government for their repatriation amid the ongoing armed conflict in Israel, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) disclosed on Thursday, Oct. 12.
DMW officer-in-charge Undersecretary Hans Leo Cacdac said the OFWs who signified intention to be repatriated are composed of 19 caregivers and three hotel workers—their workplaces are in the affected areas of the conflict between the Israeli military and Hamas fighters.
While the Philippine government is ready to grant their request, Cacdac said they are also taking steps in ensuring that the workers and their employers would have a good agreement considering that there are work contracts involved.
“In general obviously we have been advising on labor concerns. For the most part, those who want to be repatriated shall have already accomplished their contract or at least a good understanding and agreement with their employers,” said Cacdac.
“The reason is to not break the employment, for them to be able to return once the situation normalizes. We are taking extra steps so that the relation between the workers and employers is harmonious, he added.
There around 30,500 OFWs in Israel and Cadac said almost all of them are working in areas that are far from the conflict zone.
Only around 300 OFWs are working in the southern part of Israel, or near the Gaza Strip. Based on the latest monitoring, the DMW said all of those working near the Gaza Strip have already marked themselves safe.
Cacdac, however, clarified that there is no mandatory repatriation so far in Israel, explaining that the Alert Level in Israel has not even reached a situation for voluntary repatriation.
The Israeli government, through Israel Ambassador to the Philippines Ilan Fluss, said Filipino workers in Israel have been staying with their employers in bomb shelters.
Meanwhile, Cacdac said their 24/7 hotlines they put up for OFWs have already received around 120 request for assistance for their relatives in Israel.
Of the figure, most of them were already checked while only three Filipinos remain unaccounted.
Earlier, the Department of Foreign Affairs said two Filipinos were confirmed to have been killed during the Hamas gunmen attack in Israel on Oct. 7.