POEA prohibits new OFWs to Kenya

THE Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) has imposed a temporary deployment ban to Kenya covering newly-hired overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

Based on POEA Governing Board Resolution 16-2014, newly hired OFWs bound for Kenya will not be allowed to leave the country for the moment until the improvement of the political and security situation there.

“Under Alert Level 2, the POEA has banned the deployment and processing of newly-hired OFWs to the said country,” said Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz.

However, the head of the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) said they will still allow returning workers to Kenya.

“Only those OFWs with existing employment contracts are allowed to return to Kenya, subject to their compliance with documentation requirements,” Baldoz said.

Last week, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) had raised the crisis alert level in Kenya from Alert Level 1 or Precautionary Phase to Alert Level 2 or the Restriction Phase.