The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) on Wednesday released an advisory authorizing the return of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who are legally working in Myanmar to the country for vacation.
The order was released after the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) downgraded the crisis alert level in Myanmar from Alert Level 4 which is an evacuation phase to Alert Level 2 or restrictive phase.
In Advisory No. 19, DMW Secretary Susan ‘Toots’ Ople also allows OFWs who are planning to go back to the said country to resume their work.
“This applies only those with existing employment contracts,” she noted.
Ople added that the ban on the deployment of newly-hired OFWs is still in effect.
Meanwhile, she reminded Filipino workers in Myanmar to avoid traveling within the regions that are placed under crisis.
“There is no guarantee that the Philippines and Myanmar will be able to access these areas in order to render assistance in case of emergencies,” Ople added.
According to the DMW Secretary, the assessment conducted by DFA and the Philippine Embassy in Yangon showed that OFWs in Yangon, Nay Pyi Taw, and Mandalay are presently enjoying “safe and stable working conditions”.
Myanmar has been suffering from the effects of the ongoing military coup that was first launched in February 2021.
