OFWs in Afghanistan seek exemption from deployment ban

MANILA, Philippines - Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Afghanistan are seeking exemption from the government-imposed deployment ban.

A group of Filipino workers employed in US military bases there said the government must provide exemptions to the deployment ban similar to the policy adopted for Libya-bound workers.

Angel Nabalse Jr., leader of the group, said the government should also allow deployment of returning or vacationing workers since the security situation in Afghanistan has improved.

Since the reimposition of the deployment ban, Nabalse said a number of vacationing workers from Afghanistan have been stranded and were unable to go back to their jobs in US military bases.

“The workers are appealing for the same exemption given to OFWs to Libya as the circumstances inside the bases are a lot safer and secure (than) in the US/NATO bases in Libya,” Nabalse said.

He said the political situation in Afghanistan will never affect the operations of US bases as well as the workers in the facility.