DMW-ADVISORY-10-2026 — STRENGTHENED MONITORING AND WELFARE MEASURES FOR OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS (OFWs) IN THE MIDDLE EAST (BAHRAIN, ISRAEL, IRAN, JORDAN, KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA, KUWAIT, LEBANON, QATAR, AND THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES)

PBepartment ot Aligrant Workers Republic of the Philippines

Blas F. Ople Building, Ortigas Avenue cor. EDSA, Mandaluyong City 1550 Website:www.dmw.gov.ph|Er sonna 59.8724366 AGONC PILIPINA

AdVISORY No. 10

Series of 2026

Strengthened Monitoring and Welfare Measures for Overseas Filipino Workers

(OFWs) in the Middle East (Bahrain, Israel, Iran, Jordan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Lebanon, Qatar, and

the United Arab Emirates)

In light of escalating tensions in the Middle East, particularly in the above. mentioned areas, and reported disruptions in air travel and regional stability, all Private Recruitment Agencies (PRAs) with deployed or scheduled-for-deployment Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) to these countries are hereby directed to implement the following measures to ensure the safety and welfare of Filipino workers:

1. Coordination with Employers and Foreign Placement Agencies

PRAs must establish and maintain active communication with their partner employers and foreign placement agencies to regularly monitor the status and well-being of deployed OFWs, confirm the exact current location of each worker, and obtain updated contact numbers and employer information (company name, contact details, and address).

2. Enhanced Welfare Monitoring

All PRAs shall conduct intensive and proactive monitoring of OFWs, such as regular check-ins with workers, verification of their living and working conditions and immediate resolution of any welfare concerns or emergency situations.

3. Mandatory Submission of Monitoring Reports and Deployment List

a. For Deployed Workers

the Philippines. OFW Welfare Monitoring System (OWMS) for workers who have successfully departed PRAs must submit accurate and timely welfare monitoring reports through the

b. For Workers Unable to Depart

For workers who were issued Overseas Employment Certificates (OECs) or OFW Pass but were unable to depart and are currently stranded at Philippine exit points, PRAs must submit a list to [email protected] indicating the following details:

Full name of worker Job category Employer

DEPARTMENT OF MIGRANT WORKERS

Administrative Servic neral Services Divisior

Date: March 06, 2026 RECEIVED By: _ RICHIE M. GUEVARRA Time:11:55 A.M By: DMW Ge neral Services Division on _March 06, 2026 CONTROLLED AND DISSEMINATED

Intended deployment date

This reguirement is intended to facilitate stricter monitoring and prompt

resumption of deployment. coordination in cases of emergency repatriation, travel disruptions, or eventual

4. Contingency Planning

/ accommodation arrangements pursuant to host country protocol, and repatriation plans that include emergency contact numbers, evacuation protocols, temporary shelter PRAs must develop, maintain and regularly update actionable contingency

strategies in case of worsening regional conditions

5. Travel-Related Responsibilities

restrictions or force majeure events, PRAs shall: In cases of flight cancellations, rerouting, or rebooking due to airspace

Assume full responsibility for arranging alternative travel; and Shoulder the corresponding costs, in accordance with existing contractual obligations and DMW regulations.

deployment to these countries until further notice, in order to prevent inconvenience and ensure worker safety. Kuwait, all PRAs are strongly advised to temporarily refrain from processing workers for Due to recent airspace closures in Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and

6. Coordination with Government Offices

may also contact the designated emergency hotlines: advisories issued by the concerned Migrant Workers Offices (MWOs) and the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) through their official Facebook pages. PRAs For coordinated emergency response, PRAs are advised to monitor official

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CONTROLLED AND DISSEMINATED By: DMW General Services Division on March 06, 2026

7. Important Deployment Reminders (based on the most recent Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Crisis Alert Levels for Middle East countries)

Iraq and Lebanon - Under CAL 3 (Voluntary Repatriation). A total deployment Gaza, Syria, and Yemen - Under Crisis Alert Level (CAL) 4 (Mandatory Evacuation). Deployment to these countries is banned. ban (new hires and rehires) remains in effect. Iran, Kurdistan Region, Israel, and West Bank -- Under CAL 2 (Restriction Phase). Only returning workers with existing employment contracts are allowed to resume employment. Deployment of newly hired OFWs is temporarily suspended Jordan -Under CAL 1 (lowered from CAL 2). (Precautionary Phase) Processing While returning workers with valid contracts are generally allowed under CAL 2 and no alert level has been raised for Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, the Kingdom of and deployment of both newly hired and returning/re-hired OFWs are permitted Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, ongoing regional tensions and airspace restrictions currently suspend deployments to these areas until further otice.

Non-compliance with this directive shall be dealt with in accordance with the applicable provisions of the 2023 DMW Rules and Regulations Governing the Recruitment and Empioyment of Landbased Overseas Filipino Workers.

For strict compliance

HANS LEO J.CACDAC

Secretary

CONTROLLED AND DISSEMINATED By: DMW General Services Division on March 06,2026