POEA to look into possible resumption of OFW deployment to Jordan

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) said Friday it was looking into the possibility of resuming the deployment of newly-hired Filipino workers to Jordan.

POEA Administrator Bernard Olalia made the statement after it was reported early this week that the Philippines suspended the deployment of new hires after the country’s Ambassador to Jordan Akmad Sakkam raised safety concerns amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Pag-aaralan po natin kung papaano po natin iri-resume iyong deployment, at tayo po ay makikipag-ugnayan sa ating mga kasama po doon,” Olalia said at the Laging Handa briefing.

“Nandiyan po ang POLO [Philippine Overseas Labor Office], nandiyan po ang mga ambassadors natin doon na kung saan magbibigay po sila ng datos sa mga darating na panahon.”

Around 26,000 to 28,000 Filipinos are currently living and working in Jordan, according to the Philippine embassy in Amman. — Virgil Lopez/RSJ, GMA News