Government allows partial OFW deployment to Pakistan

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is now allowing partial deployment of Filipino household service workers (HSWs) to Pakistan.

In an advisory, the DMW announced the lifting of the suspension on the deployment of returning or Balik Manggagawa HSWs bound for Pakistan.

DMW opted for the resumption of deployment of returning HSWs upon the recommendation of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

DMW, however, stressed that the suspension of deployment of new-hire HSWs bound for Pakistan is still in force “pending the outcome of a consultation meeting between this Department and the DFA on the matter.”

DMW previously announced that the Philippines would not resume the deployment of HSWs to Pakistan until a bilateral agreement is signed between the two countries.

According to DMW, the bilateral agreement will ensure the protection of domestic workers to be deployed in Pakistan.

The Philippines suspended the deployment of HSWs to Pakistan in 2018 upon the recommendation of the Philippine embassy in Islamabad.