REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko
Manila, Philippines — Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz advised overseas Filipino workers in Ukraine to stay calm and stay in their homes amid the growing unrest and the threat of war in that country.
Baldoz said that the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) had not yet recommended either voluntary or mandatory repatriation of overseas Filipinos in troubled Ukraine. Her advice to OFWs in that country is to stay calm and stay home, and not make any unnecessary visit or detours to public places where marches or protests are being held.
Baldoz issued the advice after the Eastern European country that borders Russia on the east and northeast was rocked by civil disturbance in recent weeks that led to a new government.
The DFA has strongly advised all Filipinos in Ukraine to communicate with the Philippine Embassy in Moscow. The country has no embassy in Kiev, Ukraine’s capital, but has an honorary consul there. The DFA also asked Filipinos in Ukraine to inform the Embassy of their whereabouts and their current condition.
The DOLE also encouraged Filipinos in Ukraine to contact their families in the Philippines and apprise them of their situation.
Baldoz also said that Filipinos wanting to return to the Philippines should contact the Philippine Embassy.
The Department of Labor and Employment said data from the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency showed that only 115 OFWs were deployed to Ukraine in 2013 and 57 in 2012, or a total of 175. Most of the OFWs deployed were administrative and managerial workers (41) while 30 are service workers.
Baldoz said the DOLE is in close contact with the DFA in monitoring the situation in Ukraine. (with a report from the Philippine News Agency)