Deployment Ban for OFWs to Ebola-hit Countries

POEA Governing Board Resolution No. 14, Series of 2014, dated July 4, 2014, initially enforced a temporary suspension on processing and deployment of newly-hired OFWs to Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.
The suspension was due to the outbreak and spread of the highly contagious Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in these countries.
Despite the temporary suspension, processing and deployment of OFWs already vacationing or returning to these countries were allowed.

On November 27, 2014, the DFA notified the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) about raising the Crisis Alert Level from Level 2 to Level 3 (Voluntary Repatriation) in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.
The raise was due to the worsening situation of the Ebola Virus Disease in West Africa.
This also coincided with the decision for Filipino peacekeepers to withdraw from the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL).

The DFA guidelines for Alert Level 3 require DOLE to impose an absolute deployment ban on all Filipino workers bound for the affected countries.
Filipino nationals currently in these countries are to be instructed to return to the Philippines voluntarily.

In response to the elevated alert and consultation, the POEA Governing Board, in a duly convened meeting, resolved to impose a total and absolute deployment ban on all Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) bound for Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.
The resolution explicitly prohibits the deployment of all Filipino workers to these countries regardless of their employment status.

The total deployment ban was adopted and resolved on December 8, 2014.
The ban took effect immediately to curb the risk posed by the Ebola epidemic.
The resolution was signed by the Secretary of Labor and Employment (Chairperson of the Governing Board), Vice-Chairman, and members of the POEA Governing Board.

The deployment ban reflects the government's responsibility to safeguard the welfare and health of Filipino migrant workers.
It demonstrates inter-agency coordination between POEA, DOLE, and DFA in responding to international crises affecting OFWs.
The total ban supersedes previous temporary suspensions to address the heightened health risks comprehensively.