THE Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) yesterday said it is working with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) for the possible lifting of the overseas Filipino worker (OFW) deployment ban to India.
In a televised public briefing, DMW Undersecretary Hans Leo Cacdac said they are in close coordination with the DFA regarding the status of OFW deployment to India.
“We hope to resolve the matter with regards to the status of deployment to India as soon as possible,” said Cacdac. “We are working closely with the DFA on this matter.”
Cacdac said they want to reopen the India market for OFWs as soon as possible.
“We fully understand the plight of OFWs bound for India,” he said.
In early December last year, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) declared India as a “non-compliant country” in accordance with Republic Act 10022 or the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act.
Under RA 10022, the government shall allow the deployment of OFWs only in countries where the rights of Filipino migrant workers are protected.
“The deployment of Filipino workers to India cannot be allowed as long as India is assessed as a non-compliant state,” the POEA had said. — Reuters
