The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) confirmed on July 18 that it has issued a governing board resolution on Thursday, temporarily halting the deployment of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) to Oman.
The resolution comes after the Oman government issued a travel advisory banning the entry of all OFWs and travelers from the Philippines.
“The conditions for the lifting will be when the Oman government will allow the entry of our OFWs and Filipinos to Oman,”POEA Chief Bernard Olalia told CNN Philippines.
Olalia said the country sends an average of 25,000 workers to Oman before the COVID-19 pandemic every year.
The number has decreased to 5,000 annually during the pandemic.
“Wala pa silang feedback sa ngayon. Pero tayo rin kasi ang naunang mag ban ng travellers from Oman,” Olalia said.
Most of the workers in Oman are household workers and some skilled workers.
