Lift Deployment Ban in Egypt, Resume OFW Processing

Republic Act No. 10022 authorizes the POEA Governing Board, after consultation with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), to impose a ban on the deployment of Filipino migrant workers in pursuit of national interest or when public welfare so requires.
The resolution ties deployment restrictions and the lifting of the ban to the DFA’s crisis alert levels for Egypt.

The resolution is implemented to reflect the DFA’s successive lowering of Egypt’s crisis alert levels from Alert Level 4 to Alert Level 3, then to Alert Level 2, and finally to Alert Level 1.
The resolution provides for lifting the deployment ban to resume processing and deployment because of improved political and security conditions in Egypt.
Under the prior alert-level framework, Alert Level 4 triggers mandatory repatriation of OFWs.

The resolution lifts the deployment ban in Egypt.
The resolution requires resumption of processing and deployment to Egypt of all Filipino workers.
Resumption covers both vacationing Filipino workers and new hires.

The resolution recognizes that POEA GBR No. 10, Series of 2013 (dated 10 September 2013) imposed a total deployment ban to Egypt and required close coordination with the DFA, OWWA, deploying licensed agencies, and other concerned entities for immediate and safe repatriation of OFWs in Egypt.
The resolution recognizes that the DFA raised Egypt’s crisis alert level to Alert Level 4 on 19 August 20.13, which warranted mandatory repatriation of OFWs.
The resolution recognizes that the DFA recommended lowering Egypt’s alert level from Alert Level 4 to Alert Level 3 (Voluntary Repatriation) on 04 November 2013.
The resolution recognizes that the DFA further lowered the alert level from Alert Level 3 to Alert 2 (Restriction Phase) on 21 November 2013, under which processing and deployment were allowed only for OFWs returning to their current employers with existing employment contracts.
The resolution recognizes that GBR No. 13, Series of 2013 (dated 10 December 2013) allowed redeployment of returning Filipino workers to Egypt subject to proof of existing employment as determined by POEA.

The POEA Governing Board resolves to lift the deployment ban in Egypt.
The POEA Governing Board resolves to resume the processing and deployment to Egypt of all Filipino workers.
The resumed processing and deployment expressly include both vacationing workers and new hires.
The resolution is anchored on the DFA lowering Egypt’s crisis alert level from Alert Level 2 to Alert Level 1 (Precautionary Phase) on 11 December 2013.

The resolution is adopted on December 26, 2013.
The resolution is filed on 03 January 2014.
The resolution takes effect through its adoption and issuance by the POEA Governing Board, directing lifting of the ban and resumption of processing and deployment for Egypt as stated in the resolution.