Around 200 Filipino caregivers will be the first to benefit from the lifting of the deployment suspension to Israel, according to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
In a news statement issued on Thursday, Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III said the employment contracts of 208 caregivers have already been forwarded to the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) for processing.
He said another 23 have filed for a work visa with the Israeli embassy in Taguig and another 90 will be filing their visa applications this week.
“Once the visas have been secured, POEA through its government placement branch, will proceed with the processing of their overseas employment certificates and other travel documents,” Bello said.
The deployment is part of the country’s agreement with Israel for the employment of 1,000 Filipino caregivers to Israeli medical facilities.
Last Wednesday, Bello issued a memorandum ordering the resumption of the deployment of OFWs to Israel.
This after DOLE and Department of Foreign Affair observed the deescalation of tension between the Israel Defense Forces and Palestinian militant groups after they entered into a ceasefire last May. The fierce war between the two forces, which resulted in bombings, prompted DOLE to suspend the deployment of OFWs to Israel.