DFA bans 41 countries for OFW Deployment

Before, DFA(Department of Foreign Affairs) used to ban countries that has issues like civil war and compromises the security of OFW (Overseas Filipino Workers)particularly the recent issues in countries like Libya,Syria and other Middle East countries.

Now they have added 41 countries in their list because of reasons that does not abide law with regards to RA10022. I really felt sad about it, but I do hope they will be able to give other OFW's a chance to work somewhere else since there is not much job vacancy in the Philippines.

Here is the list of the 41 countries covered by the OFW deployment ban:

Name of country and number of OFWs based on the POEA Compendium of OFW Statistics (2010)

1. Afghanistan (21)
2. Antigua and Barbuda (10)
3. Barbados (21)
4. Cambodia (1,499)
5. Cayman Islands (929)
6. Chad (807)
7. Croatia (33)
8. Cuba (555)
9. North Korea - N/A (combined with S. Korea 11,697)
10. Dominica - N/A
11. East Timor/Timor Leste (1,208)
12. Eritrea (26)
13. Haiti (153)
14. India (842)
15. Iraq (N/A)
16. Kyrgyzstan (25)
17. Lebanon (1,327)
18. Lesotho (43)
19. Libya (11,604)
20. Mali (145)
21. Mauritania (67)
22. Montenegro (5)
23. Mozambique (566)
24. Nauru (10)
25. Nepal (10)
26. Niger (N/A)
27. Pakistan (383)
28. Palestine (N/A)
29. Serbia (3)
30. St. Kitts and Nevis (4)
31. St. Lucia (3)
32. St. Vincent & the Grenadines (8)
33. Sudan (1,441)
34. Swaziland (49)
35. Tajikistan (N/A)
36. Tonga (6)
37. Turks and Caicos (74)
38. Tuvalu (N/A)
39. US Virgin Islands (82)
40. Vanuatu (39)

41. Zimbabwe (19)

Cited as unsuitable for Filipino workers and these countries does not abide the International convention to protect migrant workers particularly Filipinos.

Out of these 41 countries, there are 22 countries with international operating companies that is said to honor Republic Act 10022, so only 256 OFW's will be affected.

DFA will just finish the contract of the said OFWs in these banned countries and the next step is to work on the bilateral agreement in the Middle Eastern countries where there are more cases of OFW abuse.